132 The journal of Forestry. 



Schleiden. Von Mohl gave it its present complete form by discovering- 

 the manner in which cells were multiplied by repeated division, thus laying 

 bare the mode by which growth was actually effected. He also first 

 detected the importance of the peculiar living matter which is contained 

 in cells, and which is their really essential part. To this he gave the name 

 of protoplasm. The [lecturer then proceeded to show that in the green 

 parts of plants minute portions of this protoplasm are separated from the 

 rest and assume a green colour. In these chlorophyll corpuscles, as they 

 are called, starch is manufactured during the day from the carbonic acid 

 drawn from the air, and the water which ascends from the plant roots. 

 During the night the starch is dissolved and " wanders" over the plant, to 

 be accumulated in stores or employed for growth. The influence in these 

 and other processes of the different constituents of sunlight was then con- 

 sidered. It was shown that the red rays had to do with chemical, the blue 

 rays with mechanical activity. The IdIuc rays in sunlight actually had a 

 retarding effect on growth. Consequently, putting the effects of the differ- 

 ence in temperature aside, it could be demonstrated that plants grew faster 

 by night than by day. During the former they used the building material 

 they manufactured during the latter. Plants grown in the dark were 

 said to be " drawn ; " but, in point of fact, they were only taller because 

 they were removed from the repressive action of light. So to the move- 

 ment of plants towards light was probably due the curvature of the stems, in 

 consequence of the illuminated side growing more slowly than that which 

 was shaded. The repressive action of light was confined to its blue por- 

 tion, which proved the absurdity of the recent statements in American 

 papers about the influence of blue light in stimulating growth. Although 

 sunlight was necessary to the activity of chlorophyll, in excessive amount it 

 destroyed it. An instance of this was afforded by the change of colour in 

 ripening fruit. Plants appear to have various contrivances for shielding 

 their chlorophyll from this injury. The thick epidermis of leaves and 

 their hairy investments were some of these. Young leaves were also, at 

 first, often turned edgeways to protect the nascent chlorophyll grains from 

 undue exposure. Finally, the protojilasm, which possessed powers of move- 

 ment of its own, actually even dragged the chlorophyll grains from the 

 illuminated sides of the cells, allowing them to return again during dark- 

 ness. 



Prices realized for Timber in Morayshire. 



By D. SCOTT, WOOD MANAGER, DARN AWAY CASTLE, MORAYSHIRE. 



The prices realized for timber in this county will bear favour- 

 able comparison with most other counties in the north of Scotland. 

 There is a considerable extent under timber, especially in the western part 

 of the county, where are situated the forests of Altyre and Darnaway. In 

 the Forest of Darnaway there is an annual sale of hardwood, composed 



