BY L. RODWAY. 



109 



fortuitous as is this instance. Besides this, if characters 

 may be transmitted along the filaments, we must reconsider 

 our present position in regard to> heredity. There is no 

 evidence to prove it, but the simplest conclusion would be 

 that of a migrating nucleus. It is quite out of the ques- 

 tion that a nucleus can have migrated through normal 

 tissue from stock to varying bud. Even if fragmented it 

 does 1 not seem to be feasible. We require a more direct 

 route for the entire nucleus. Such a course may be pro- 

 vided by the conditions of grafting. A wound is made in 

 ihe cambium of the stock. Many cells are opened and 

 their nuclei set free. There is fair reason to believe that 

 freed nuclei, under suitable conditions, may retain vitality 

 for a considerable time. A bud or twig of a scion is thrust 

 into the wound and bound round with isolating material. 

 The scion starts into growth ; a vigorous transpiration cur- 

 rent is set up in the vessels, and it is not at all unreason- 

 able that some of the free nuclei may be carried by the 

 current to the growing point. If such living nuclei can 

 maintain themselves under these conditions it requires no 

 violence tx> biologic ideas to conclude that they may assert 

 their presence at the growing point and produce the char- 

 acteristic form of variety from which they came. 

 The plates are the work of Mr. L. Dechaineux. 



