HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



189 



a striking illustration of that which forms the 

 characteristic difference between a stem and a root, 

 that whereas a root only grows at its lower end, a 

 stem is capable of growing throughout its length, so 

 as to separate the organs growing on it by long 

 internodes. A peduncle or flower stalk being of the 

 nature of a stem, that of the crocus grows after the 

 flowering. Sometimes, however, as in the case your 

 correspondent mentions, exposure to cold winds may 

 hinder the development of a peduncle and the seeds 

 ripen underground on what had been the base of a 

 flower that bloomed in the ordinary way. — John Gibbs. 



"An Eligible Building Site." — The above is 

 within a mile or so of the Alexandra Palace, and lies 

 •on the side of an incline. About four years ago, 

 when the foundations of some houses near were dug, 

 the earth was carried on to this piece of ground. 

 Three years ago Phalaris Canariensis flourished all 

 over the plot ; there also appeared Saponaria vaccaria, 

 Melilotus alba, and Linum angustifolium. Since then 

 Phalaris has only appeared sparingly, but Melilotus 

 arvensis and Lepidium ruderale flourish, while a few 

 specimens of Erysimu?n orientale, Carum Carui and 

 Camclina saliva have been found. Thlaspi arvcnse 

 also occurred this year in a circular patch. Another 

 curious circumstance was that Trifolium repens was 

 abundant there one ■ year, with a foliaceous calyx, 

 and Lolium perenne was often found with a number 

 of spikelets clustered at the top of the spike. How 

 did the seeds of the above get on to that particular 

 piece of land ? as they do not seem to grow any- 

 where near, and Saponaria vaccaria is not even in 

 Bentham's Flora.— J. E. C. 



"Annals of Botany." — The Clarendon Press is 

 about to publish the " Annals of Botany, " which will be 

 edited by Professor Bayley Balfour, of the University 

 of Oxford ; by Dr. Vines, of Cambridge ; and by 

 Professor W. G. Farlow, of Harvard University, 

 Massachusetts, U.S.A. The papers will be ade- 

 quately illustrated, and on subjects pertaining to all 

 branches of botanical science, including morphology, 

 histology, physiology, paleobotany, pathology, geo- 

 graphical distribution, economic botany, and syste- 

 matic botany and classification. There will also be 

 articles on the history of botany, reviews and criti- 

 cisms of botanical works, reports of progress in the 

 different departments of the sciences, short notes, and 

 letters. A record of botanical works in the English 

 language will be a special feature. With regard to 

 the last point, the editors direct attention to the 

 fact, that many important contributions to botanical 

 sciences are not at present brought before the 

 botanical world with that promptitude which their 

 merit deserves, and many are frequently entirely 

 overlooked, owing to the fact that the periodical 

 in which they appear is not readily accessible to 

 botanists generally. An attempt will be made in 



the "Annals of Botany" to remedy this stare of 

 affairs ; and it is hoped that it may be possible to 

 make the record fairly complete, embracing works 

 published not only in Great Britain and Ireland, 

 but also in India and the Colonies and in America. 

 To enable them to carry out this intention, the 

 editors appeal to the secretaries of local scientific 

 institutions, societies, and clubs, in all parts of the 

 world, to send them early information of all the 

 publication of papers relating to any branch of 

 botany. 



GEOLOGY, &c. 



The Wealden Area during the Glacial 

 Period. — Mr. J. V. Elsden, in a paper on this 

 subject, has given in detail his observations on the 

 angular flint-deposits of the Arun, Adur, Ouse, and 

 Cuckmere basins. He also noticed a sandy or loamy 

 deposit containing angular fragments of ironstone, and 

 generally a few small angular flints that occurred on 

 the surface of the Lower Greensand, and, to a small 

 extent, on the Weald Clay. A block of granite, 

 weighing between five and six pounds, was found on 

 the chalk escarpment at Kilhurst Hill. The angular 

 flint-drift occurred mainly on the higher parts of the 

 area, and was wanting in the river-valleys, where, 

 however, river-gravels derived from the denudation 

 of the older deposits were abundantly developed. 

 Not only in the Wealden area, but throughout many 

 of the neighbouring districts, the angular drift con- 

 sisted of the undenuded remnants of a deposit formed 

 before the present river-valleys were cut, and many 

 of the river-gravels, though newer than the angular 

 drift, were deposited when the valleys had been less 

 excavated than they now are. This was Mr. Topley's 

 view with respect to the northern portion of the 

 Wealden area. Mr. Searles V. Wood's marine theory 

 of the origin of these gravels was discussed, and shown 

 to be refuted by their mode of occurrence. It was, 

 moreover, contended that the drift, although com- 

 posed of local materials, was probably of subaqueous 

 origin, and not merely subaerial. The discovery of a 

 granite boulder might, if confirmed by other dis- 

 coveries, lead to a modification of the views generally 

 held as to the physical character of the area during 

 the glacial period. 



Boulders in Seams "of Coal. — At the last 

 meeting of the Geological Society, a paper on this 

 subject was read by Mr. John Spencer. The dis- 

 covery of a boulder weighing six pounds, and com- 

 posed of granite, in the Gannister or Mountain-Mine 

 seam of the Rossendale district, at Old Meadows 

 Pit, near Bacup, Lancashire, had led the author to 

 call attention to the occasional occurrence of similar 

 boulders in various parts of Lancashire and Yorkshire. 



