49 



of a syrup. If this residue is mixed with water, crystals are 

 in a few days deposited which readily dissolve in boiling water. 



J. W. GOODINGE. 



The use of Log-wood dye, in England, dates from the time of 

 Queen Elizabeth, but the dyers of that period knew so little about 

 its chemical properties that they failed to render the colour of the 

 dye sufficiently permanent ; and the prejudice against it conse- 

 quently became so strong that an Act of Parliament was passed 

 forbidding its use, and ordering it to be burnt where found. This 

 law was of course evaded by introducing it under the name of 

 Black-wood. The law was not repealed till the time of Charles 

 the Second. 



E. E. Jarrett. 



Acrides hoseum.— A longitudinal section of the leaf of this 

 plant will show under the Polariscope curious long-shaped fibro- 

 cells with a double spiral similar to those mentioned by Carpen- 

 ter as existing in Saccolabhmi guiiatuni. In many the spiral is very 

 close, reminding one of the appearance of the cross lines on some 

 of the diatoms. 



C. V. SiMITH. 



Quekett, in his Histological lectures, states that, " in most 

 spiral vessels the fibre is single, in others two or more fibres 

 running in the same direction form a band, which for distinc- 

 tion is called a compound spiral vessel." In no work that I have 

 access to can I find (except Carpenter's already quoted) any 

 statement of spirals winding in opposite directions, " so that by 

 their mutual intersection a series of diamond-shaped markings is 

 produced." May I hazard the conjecture that the reticulated 

 appearance is due to seeing both sides of the spiral vessel at 

 the same time ? 



I am aware that some vessels have longitudinal as well as 

 transverse striae, but it seems to me elasticity would be some- 

 what impaired if the striae wound in opposite directions ; and 

 that different views are entertained as to the striae coiling to 

 the right or the left. Quekett gives the above as coiling from 

 right to left. Another work on Botany I have before me would 

 describe it as with the spirals from left to right, all depending on 

 the position of the observer. Asa Grey would call the helix sini- 

 strorse, /.<?., to the left, presuming the observer to be outside and 



E 



