133 
The contents of perfect and fresh cells appeared to be quite clear 
and transparent, with occasionally a well-defined sort of vesicle of a 
deeper color than the rest. When the endochrome was pressed out 
from the cells into the surrounding water it contracted into spherical, 
oil-like masses. The surrounding envelope was quite hard, tough 
and resisting. 
Identification of 
Messrs. Lawrence 
and Raddin, of Evanston, III., have been making a study of the 
markings of the cell-walls of various exogenous trees with the 
object of ascertaining whether it is possible to distinguish species by 
this means. The results of their observations are published in the 
November number of the Microscope. 
The conclusion that they reach is that species cannot be distin- 
guished by this means, and they further observe that the same species 
collected in different localities presented differences that were often- 
times very great. They even assert that species of the same genus 
frequently bear no relation to each other in this respect, and that the 
markings on the cells of Quercus rubra sometimes so closely resemble 
those of Finns Strobus that there is danger of confounding the woods 
of these two trees. 
r 
Vegetative Organs of Monotropa. — In studying the structure of 
Monotropa Hypopitys, Mr. F. Kamienski finds the root of this plant 
'to be covered externally by the mycelium of a fungus, which 
branches abundantly and forms a pseudoparenchymatous envelope, 
often two or three times the thickness of the epidermis itself, being 
especially well developed at the apex of the root. It is entirely 
superficial, not penetrating the living cells, though occasionally be- 
tween the epidermal cells. The species of this fungus Mr. Kamienski 
was unable to determine, but considers it to be probably identical 
with that found on the roots of conifers and other trees. With re- 
gard to the mode of nutrition of Monotropa, Mr. Kamienski decides 
that It IS not a parasite. The most careful examination failed to de- 
tect any haustoria or other parasitic union of the root with any 
host. 'He regards it as deriving its nutriment from the soil through 
the meduim of the fungus->mycelium by which the roots are invested; 
the only parts of the root which are in actual contact with the soil 
are composed of lifeless cells with no power of deriving "nutriment 
from it. The connection of the fungus with the root of the Mono- 
tropa IS not one of parasitism, but of true symbiosis, each of the two 
organisms deriving support and nutriment from the o\.\\QX.—Journ. 
Roy. Microscop. Soc. 
The New Director of Kew Gardens — We supplement the state- 
ment made in our last number as to the retirement of Sir Joseph D. 
Hooker from the post of Director of the Royal Gardens at Kew by 
the announcement that Mr. W. T. Thiselton Dyer, who for some 
time past has ably performed the duties of Assistant Director, has 
been nominated to succeed him. 
The de Candolle Prize. — The Society of Physics and Natural His- 
tory of Geneva offers a prize of 500 francs for the best original mon- 
ograph of any family or class of plants. The prize was instituted by 
Mr. A. P. de Candolle. The manuscripts may be in Latin, French, 
