1897 THE MICROSCOPE. 105 
Lista Sibel We Sal O sy Cle 8 cal oe 
New Series, 1893. 
For Naturalists, Physicians, and Druggists, and Destgned to Popularize 
Microscopy. 
Published monthly. Price $1.00 per annum. Subscriptions should end 
with the year. The old series, conststing of 12 volumes (1881-1892), ended 
with December, 1Sg2. Sets of the old sertes cannot be furutshed. All 
correspondence, exchanges, and books for notice should be addressed to the 
Microscopical Publishing Co., Washington, D. C., U.S. A. 
CHARLES W. SMILEY, A. M., EDITOR. 
EDITORIAL. 
Germination of Barley.—Gruss states that when bar- 
ley germinates the solution of the cell-walls of the endo- 
sperm commences in the neighborhood of the scutellum, 
and advances thence towards the apex of the grain, most 
actively in the outer part ; but there isa small portion of 
the apex which usually remains intact. The cell-walls 
are not dissolved, but corroded. Congo red stains walls 
that are intact, an intense red, while those that have been 
affected assume only a slight light-red tint. The starch 
grains are attacked only after the corrosin of the cell-wall, 
the first in the neighborhood of the scutellum. Diastase 
may be produced spontaneously in the endosperm of seeds 
that have not germinated, and from which the embryo has 
been removed. 
QUESTIONS ANSWERED. 
Nore.—Dr. S. G. Shanks, of Albany, N Y., kindly consents to receive al. sorts of gues- 
tions relating to microscopy, whether asked by professionals or amateurs. Persons of al 
gvades of experience, from the beginner upward, are welcome to the benefits of this depar*- 
‘ment. The questions are numbered for /uturve reference. 
Q. 254.— What are air spaces in aquatic plants? J. NV. 
Largeair spaces occur in the leaf stems of aquatic plants 
