<;)ii 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



into upland and lowland types. In general, the upland types follow in their dietri- 

 i)Ution tlit'distril)uti()n of soils, the hard wood orcuring on low clay plains, on swamp 

 margins in luamy auil, and on certain plains of loam which are well covered with 

 humus. 



The white pine occurs on ridges of clay loam, clay, and also on swamp margins in 

 loam and clay. The Norway i)ine type was found on loamy sand plains and on ridges 

 of sand and gravelly loam, while the jack pine type occujjies exclusively the well- 

 washed sand ])lains. The only complic-ating factors in this distribution are the effect 

 of hunms, which seems to be able to make rather poor sand suj)port hard woods. 

 According to the author, the real factor which determines the distribution is the 

 power of the soil to hold water, and this increases with the fineness of particles or 

 the presence of hunms. 



The taxonomic value of the spermogonium, J. C. Arthur {Ahs. in Science, n. 

 ser., 19 {i;>04), Xo. 474, pp. 171, i7.^).— The i»hysiological significance of the sper- 

 mogonium is as yet unknown, although it is assumed to l)e associated with the sexual 

 rej)roduction of the organism. The author claims that among the Uredinete are 2 

 classes of spores, the teleutospores which are doubtless of sexual character, and the 

 I'onidia, which are either jecidia or uredospores. The spermogonium always appears 

 in the life cycle as the first fruiting structure. If the first subsequent spore structure 

 is the uredo, there is no fecidiuni in the cycle. If it is a teleutospore, there is neither 

 ajcidium nor uredo. The presence of the spermogonium, therefore, furnishes impor- 

 tant information regarding the extent of the life cycle of the fungus. The form, size, 

 and origin furnish minor diagnostic charactei'S. 



Pot experiments to determine the, limits of endurance of different farm 

 crops for certain injurious substances, F. B. Uithkie and R. Helms (Jour, and 

 Proc. Rotj. Sac. New South Wales, 36 [1902), jyp. 191-200). — Noted from another source 

 (E. S. R., 14, p. 945). 



The enzym-secreting cells in the seedlings of maize and dates, 11. S. Reed 

 {Ah.^. in Science, n. ser., 19 (1904), ^o- 474, p- 175). — During the process of germination 

 seedlings of maize and dates produce an enzym for the solution of endosperm. 

 According to the author, this enzym is secreted from a differentiated layer of cells, 

 which show continuous morphological changes during the time the enzym is being 

 secreted. When the secretion begins these cells are full of fine proteid granules, but 

 as the secretion progresses they constantly disapi)ear. 



In the early stages of secretion the nuclei of the secreting cells of maize are found 

 in the basal end of the cell. In the latter stages they are in the apical end next the 

 endosperm layer. As the secretion progresses there is a continuous increase in 

 the amount of chromatin in the nuclei of the secreting cells. At the same time the 

 nucleoli decrease in size and staining properties, and at the end of the process the 

 protoplasm of the secreting cells breaks down and the products of disintegration 

 disai)pear. 



The histology of insect galls, M. T. Cook {Ahs. in Science, n. ser., 19 {1904), 

 No. 474, l>. 174). — The author says that the function of the gall is to furnish nutri- 

 tion and protection for larva;. The simplest form of galls shows only 2 zones, the 

 inner nutritive one and the outer protective zone. In the most highly developed 

 galls 4 zones are shown, the inner zone being nutritive and the others protective. 

 In the simplest galls where there are only 2 zones the inner layer is rich in proto- 

 plasm, starch, etc., imtil the insect has become nearly mature, while the other zones 

 furnish tannin. A separation of the second and third zones, which occurs in some 

 of the more highly developed galls, is believed to be a protective device. 



Symbiosis in Iiolium, E. M. Freeman {Abs. in Science, n. ser., 19 {1904), No. 474, 

 pp. 172, 173).— In a previous paper (E. S. R., 14, p. 842) the author has described 

 the life cycle of the fungus of Lolium temulentum and other species. Further experi- 

 ments show that the fungus does not produce spores and that there are 2 races of 



