May 1908.] GERMINATION IN SEEDS OF PEGANUM HARMALA. 3453 
ledons appeared almost simultaneously, the radicle growing 
out as usual from the micropyle, the cotyledons appearing at 
the opposite end (fig. 3). 
It must be borne in mind of course that the germination 
of these seeds took place under perfectly abnormal conditions. 
It is not at all safe to assume that, if they had been germin- 
ated in soil, they would have behaved in this abnormal way. 
At the same time it is extremely likely that, if they had been 
germinated in soil, and if these abnormal cases had really 
occurred under such conditions, they would never have been 
noticed. It is very improbable that such seedlings could 
ever become fixed in the soil, or indeed survive long enough 
for the cotyledons to appear above ground. 
THE USE OF ARSENIC IN HORTICULTURE. By J. RUTHERFORD 
Hitt, Ph. C. 
Recently I was consulted as to what could have caused the 
death of some domestic fowls on an estate in the south of 
Scotland. It was complained that the fowls were perfectly 
well one day and found dead the next without any apparent 
explanation. On inquiry it was found that the fowls 
frequented a piece of ground which had been treated with 
arsenical weedkiller fully six months previously. The weed- 
killer contained equal quantities of arsenious oxide and 
sudium hydrate. The weeds were apparently completely 
killed at the time, but there is now upon the ground a strong 
and vigorous growth of grasses, mosses, and various weeds. 
The season had been unusually wet, and on chemical 
examination it was found the alkali had been entirely washed 
away and the soil had resumed its normal faintly acid condi- 
tion. On looking for arsenic a very different state of affairs 
was found. A little earth treated with diluted hydrochloric 
acid gave by Reinsch’s, Guitzeit’s, and the hydrogen sulphide 
tests, abundant evidence of arsenic in the soil, and this clearly 
solved the mystery attending the death of the domestic 
fowls, who had been picking up gravel from the arsenic-laden 
pathway. 
This example is typical of many similar cases which have 
come under my notice in different parts of the country, and 
