H. BOTANY AND HORTICULTURE. 351 



donable enough considering the difficulty of the investigation. 

 4. Smut ( Ustilago carbo, Tulasne), when its germ tube grows 

 in spots moistened with distilled water, itself behaves exactly 

 like the germ-tube yeast that is, rod-like cells are constrict- 

 ed off from the extremity of every fibre. 5. The parasite 

 found in the urine of typhus patients, w T hen placed in a nitro- 

 genized solution of sugar and other fluids capable of under- 

 going fermentation, buds like Cryptococcus, and increases in 

 the same manner. 6. Moreover, Cryptococcus cells germinate 

 under favorable conditions, and their germs comport them- 

 selves like beer yeast when placed on a moist bed. V. The 

 germ cells of Haubner's skin fungus of the horse behave like 

 those of yeast under similar conditions that is, in fermenta- 

 ble liquids they develop Cryptococcus cells, which, under fa- 

 vorable circumstances, germinate and constrict off elongated 

 cells from the ends of the fibres. 13 A, May 1, 1872, 170. 



AMOUNT AND ORIGIN OF MINERAL MATTER IN PLANTS. 



Baudrimont, in the course of an examination into the 

 amount of mineral matter in plants, determined the compo- 

 sition of quite a number of species, and arrived at the follow- 

 ing conclusions : First, that mineral matter is found in all 

 plants, even those of aerial growth, which would scarcely 

 seem likely to have the power of acquiring it ; second, that 

 the mineral matter contained in plants occurs in at least two 

 distinct conditions, namely, as a simple solution in the veg- 

 etable juices, either not having been yet utilized or unassimi- 

 lable as the product of dejection, or else as finally united to 

 or fixed with organic matter; third, this latter mode of union 

 may occur in variable proportions, from the smallest quanti- 

 ty indispensable to the production of organic matter to a 

 maximum, where the reciprocal action becomes zero. 



The variability of the relative proportion of the organic 

 mineral matter shows that these are not united to each other 

 as the fundamental chemical elements are united. In place 

 of an intimate combination in definite proportions between 

 the elements of molecules, there is only a simple adhesive 

 union, with the preservation of the fundamental structure of 

 organic products. 



Baudrimont was much struck by finding that Cactus peru- 

 vianas contained 94 per cent, of water and volatile matter, 



