514 Journal of Applied Microscopy. 



the walls and fill the cells surrounding the decayed center. A fungus with 

 strongly marked characters grows within the decayed centers and between them 

 without injuring the intervening wood. The fungus was not found in fruit, and 

 could not be identified. The decay does not continue after the tree has been 

 cut down, and the " pecky " lumber seems to be about as durable as the sound, 

 although its commercial value is considerably less. The disease of Lihocedriis 

 presents similar characters, and it is probably caused by the same fungus. The 

 article is interesting whether viewed from a scientific or an economic standpoint. 



c. J. c. 



This work was undertaken with a view 

 Schmidle, W. Einiges iiber die Befruchtung, . 



Keimung und Harrinsertion von Batracho- to testmg the validity ot the results 

 spermum. Bot. Zeit. 57: 125-135, pi. 4, gj^g^ bv Davis* in his work on the 

 1899. ° ^ 



Fertilization of Batrachospermum. 



Davis' results are briefly, these : (1) The trichogyne is an individual cell. (2) 

 In fertilization there is no fusion between the nuclei of the spermatium and the 

 trichogyne, or between those of the spermatium and the carpogonium. (3) Fer- 

 tilization consists only in the fusion of the protoplasm masses of the spermatium 

 and trichogyne. (4) After fertilization the cells of the carpogonium and the sperma- 

 tium begin to fragment. . (5) In old trichogynes there are differentiated parts of 

 the protoplasm of a green color. It is suggested that they function as chromato- 

 phores and that the long life of the trichogyne after fertilization is due to them. 

 (6) The antherida have reduced chromatophores. 



The present writer confirms the results mentioned under 4, 5, and 6, but 

 believes that the statements given under 1, 2, and 3 are largely erroneous. 

 He does not believe that Davis is right in regarding the trichogyne as an inde- 

 pendent cell. The spermatia, when in contact with the trichogyne or near the 

 trichogyne, are provided with a membrane and almost always have two nuclei. 

 One of these nuclei, surrounded by its protoplasm, wanders into the trichogyne, 

 and the other usually follows, the narrowness of the canal apparently offering no 

 hindrance to the passage of the nucleus from the spermatium to the trichogyne, 

 A series of stages shows that there is a union of the sperm-nucleus with the nucleus 

 of the carpogonium, as would be expected from Willes' work on Nemalion midtifi- 

 dum, and Ottmann's researches on various members of the Rhodophyceae. 



The plates will hardly bear comparison with Davis' excellent drawings of 

 Batrachospermum, but the evidence against points 1, 2, and 3, as stated 

 above, together with positive evidence that there is a fusion between the 

 nucleus of the spermatium and that of the carpogonium, makes it almost certain 

 that Batrachospermum is not so exceptional in its fertilization as has been 

 thought. . c. J. c. 



RECENT LITERATURE. 



Atkinson, G. F. Studies on Reduction in Coulter, John M. The Origin of the Leafy 

 Plants. Bot. Gaz. 28: 1-26, pi. 1-6, 1899. Sporophyte. Bot. Gaz. 28: 46-59, 1899. 



D J c ^1 J I c. J- 1} . n Fischer, A. Fixirung, Frirbung und Bau des 



^rmA ^•^\zdoY>hox^-hiyxdien Bot. Gen- p^otoplasmas. Jena, Gustave Fischer, 



tralbl. 79: 14^153- pl- i-3. 1S99. ^^^ i+262, 1899. 



*The Fertilization of Batrachospermum. Ann. Bot. 10: 49-76, pl. 6-7, il 



