THE PLANT WOKLD 35 



Tlie author also reviews the experiments of Giglioli, in which 

 the action of both liquid and gaseous poisons to seeds M^as shown. 

 In these experiments prolonged action of oxygen, chlorin, nitric oxid, 

 alcohol, and an alcoholic solution of corrosive sublimate on seeds 

 did not entirely destroy the power of germination. The author repeated 

 a number of these experiments. Alfalfa seed exi)osed from 10 to 30 days 

 to the action of methyl alcohol, saturated solution of corrosive sublimate 

 and picric acid, did not have the powers of germination noticeably 

 affected. Seeds of different kinds of poppies resisted the action of 

 alcohol, but were killed by corrosive sublimate solution. An experiment 

 by the author seems to show that resistance to the poison is not due to 

 a quiescent state of the protoplasm of the seed, but to the impervious- 

 ness of the seed coat, A large number of seeds of alfalfa were selected, 

 half of them punctured, all dried, and after drying immersed in the 

 various solutions mentioned above. The uninjured seeds were not 

 affected by the poisonous fluids, while the punctured ones had their 

 vitality entirely destroyed — H. H. Dixon [Nature, Vol. 64, No. 1654], 

 iVbstract from Experiment Station Record. 



General Items. 



The Massachusetts Horticultural Society has just issued its schedule 

 of prizes to be offered during 1902. This shows that the total sum of 

 $8,075.00 has been set aside, distributed as follows : For flowers, $2,500.00; 

 for plants, $2,000.00 ; for native plants, $175.00 ; for fruits, $1,700.00 ; for 

 vegetables, $1,200.00 ; for gardens and greenhouses, $500.00. 



With the January number The Bryologist becomes a bi-monthly. It 

 continues under the editorial charge of A. J. Grout and Mrs. Annie 

 Morrill Smith, and the January number contains illustrated articles on 

 Leneodon, Fndlania, Fanoria, etc., as well as notes on new or little 

 known mosses. 



De. Herbekt J. Webber, of the U. S. Department of Agriculture, has 

 just published [Bulletin No. 2, Bureau of Plant Industry] a technical 

 paj)er of the highest scientific interest on the sexual organs of Zamia or 

 coontie of South Florida. Among the collateral results of this study Dr. 

 Webber has demonstrated that there are at least two species of Zamia 

 in Florida, when only one has heretofore been recognized as occurring, 

 and also that the cones in various stages of development can be shipped 

 by mail or express at least a three to five days' journe}', and arrive in 

 a perfectly satisfactory condition for microscopic study. 



