256 



THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY 



[August, 



Camden Microscopical Society. — The last 

 meeting of the Society may be called visitors' 

 night, having been devoted entirely to the in 

 struction and entertainment of the members 

 and their friends. 



Isaac C. Martindale gave an interesting talk 

 upon "the germination and growth of Parasitic 

 Plants." The gentleman spoke entirely extem- 

 pore, and from the ease and fluency with which 

 he presented the points of the subject, it was 

 evident that he was master of this part of the 

 science of Botany. 



He first drew a distinction between parasitic 

 and epiphytic plants, in that the former feeds 

 upon and the latter lives or rests only, without 

 feeding upon the pieces of the host. Parasitic 

 plants may also be defined or divided into those 

 •which have green leaves and those devoid of 

 them, those having them assimilate their own 

 food, while the leafless feed on that prepared by 

 the host plant. They are further distinguished 

 by those which germinate in the earth, and 

 afterwards become parasitic. Those which 

 germinate as parasitic and afterwards pursue 

 an independent existence, and those which 

 germinate, live and die attached to another. 



The Common Dodder, Cuscuta Americana, 

 conspicuous in our swamps in the summer, ap- 

 pearing like a copper- colored wire, is an illustra- 

 tion of the first-class. Its seeds germinate in the 

 earth, the embryo of which typifies the future 

 growth, being of the form of a spiral. 



After the seedling has grown out, it finds some 

 plant to which it attaches itself by little projec- 

 tions or papillae, which push out of the side of 

 the slender stem and penetrate the woody tissues 

 or fibres of the plant it is destined to feed upon ; 

 then the connection with the earth dies and 

 thereafter all nourishment is drawn from the 

 host through the little root-like suckers. The 

 history of the growth of this plant was traced 

 through the various stages, and an illustration 

 given that while the Dodder was a parasite it 

 might succor or sustain another parasite on it- 

 self, a fungus which the speaker had discovered 

 a few years since near Mt. Ephraim, and which 

 is now known as Protomyces Martindalee, so 

 named by Prof. C. H. Beck, of Albany, an au- 

 thority on this class of plants. 



The Flax Dodder is another species of similar 

 habit, formerly destructive in the flax fields of 

 our forefathers, who grew that commodity for 

 "homespun." Several other species were des- 

 cribed, and about one-tenth of those known are 



said to be inhabitants of the United States. 

 Of the class that germinate on the roots of 

 other plants, and may perfect their growth after- 

 wards independently, a large number of in- 

 stances were given, admirably illustrated by 

 dried specimens from the large herbarium of the 

 lecturer, some natives of this country, others 

 from Europe, Asia and Africa. 



A very handsome specimen of the so-called 

 snow plant of the Western Sierras was exhibited 

 and its habits of growth, etc., described. 



Schtveinitzia adorata a rare plant (parasitic) 

 was shown as perpetuating the name of Van 

 Schweinitz who spent a large part of his life in 

 the study of the lower forms of vegetable life. 



The large order of Orobanche was illustrated by 

 numerous species, and detailed descriptions of 

 the life history of the curious plants were given, 

 and many interesting facts related. 



The closing of the lecture was a beautiful diag- 

 nosis of the intimate relation that the compre- 

 hensive mind of man may see existing in all 

 things, of the mutual relations of one being to 

 another in order to obtain the highest measure 

 of life, the especial gift of God, and of how the 

 Microscope can be made to serve a great purpose, 

 and the study of Natural History open the way 

 for an upright walking in the truth. Yet, so far 

 as these investigations and studies have gone, by 

 the aid of the highest Microscopic powers we are 

 able to bring to bear upon the gern)s of exist- 

 ence, some progress and development has al- 

 ready preceded our sight, a gap there that can 

 onlj' be spanned by a faith in an over-seeing 

 power, which fashions for the use of his crea- 

 tures all things that he wills. 



The wrapt attention paid to the lecture must 

 have been gratifying to the speaker, as an assur- 

 ance that the labor of many tedious hours, the 

 fatigues and disappointments of many a weary 

 search in collecting these facts and specimens, 

 afforded so much instruction to those seekers 

 after knowledge, whose eager faces showed their 

 appreciation 



At its conclusion, remarks upon it were made 

 by several members, and the attention of the 

 audience called to those ^interesting parasitic 

 plants or microfungi, Cluster Cups, of which large 

 numbers and diflerent species were shown and 

 explained by the members under the micro- 

 scope. 



Their meetings increase in interest, and we 

 predict a large attendance oi next visitors' 

 night. 



