1 89 i.J Notes and News. 93 



F. Ludwig finds in the Synchytrium-galls on Anemone nemorosa a 

 red coloring matter, readily soluble in water, whose identity with 

 anthocyanin he has established. It is a derivative of tannin. He 

 raises the question as to its significance — whether it is a purely patho- 

 logical product, or whether it serves as a protection to the fungus 

 against snails. He points out the general red coloration and abund- 

 ance of tannin in insect galls and reminds his readers of Stahl's re- 

 searches which show the avoidance of tannin-bearing plants by snails. 



Cf. Verh. bot. Ver. d. Prov. Brand, xxxi. p. vii, and Bot. Cent. xliv. 

 82. 



Three new methods of preparing aleurone grains of Ricinus are as 

 follows : 1. The Overton method. 1 After hardening sections for sev- 

 eral hours in absolute alcohol, immerse them in an aqueous solution 

 of gallotannic acid. The crystalloids absorb the acid and become 

 brownish on treatment with 1 per cent, osmic acid. After washing in 

 distilled water place in glycerine. 2. Poulsen's methods. 2 (a) Harden 

 in absolute alcohol 24 hours ; place for an hour in a 25 per cent 

 aqueous solution of tannic acid ; wash in distilled water; place in an 

 aqueous solution of bichromate of potassium and allow to remain until 

 brown. Wash and preserve in glycerine. (*) Treat as in (a) but use a 

 10-20 per cent, aqueous solution of sulphate of iron (which results in 

 a deep blue coloration), wash, dehydrate, clear with clove oil and 

 mount in balsam. 



Pfeffer criticizes the conclusions of Hugo de Vries and his pupils 

 as to the origin of vacuoles and the plasma membranes of the cell. (For 

 these views see notes in this journal, xiv. 24, 137.) Pfeffer however 

 affirms 1 that he has been able to produce vacuoles artificially in the 

 Plasmodium of Chondrioderma difforme by causing it to enclose solid 

 particles of various soluble substances. The artificial vacuoles were in 

 no wise distinguishable from the true. He also observed the division 

 and fusion of these vacuoles, as well as their fusion with a pulsating 

 vacuole. In some cases they even showed a slight pulsation them- 

 selves. His criticisms on the'existence, origin and significance of the 

 membrane surrounding the plasma and the membrane enclosing 

 the vacuole are equally radical. A clear insight into these structures 

 seems not yet reached. 



The Press, a daily paper of Christchurch, New Zealand, bearing 

 date of Jan. 16, has just been received, giving account of the opening 

 sessions of the other A. A. A. S., the Australasian Association for the 

 Advancement of Science. The sessions began January 15, at Christ- 

 church, in Canterbury College, with the distinguished botanist Baron 

 von Mueller in the chair as retiring president. The proceedings are 

 reported in full, and the whole affair seems full of an energy and spirit 

 which augur well for the future of the younger A. A. A. S. It wu be 

 remembered that at the Indianapolis meeting of the American Asso- 

 ciation the retiring President, Dr. Geo. L. Goodale, was appointed as 



1 Cf. Bot. Cent, xliv, 1 (1800). * Hev. gen. de Botamque, 11, 547. 



3 Abhand. d. Math.-Phys. Class, d. Sachs. Gesells. d. Wiss. xvi, p. 18.) — 445. 

 Abstr. in Bot. Cent. xliv. 180. 



