1882.] 



MICROSCOPICAL JOURNAL. 



135 



Pollen- TUBES. — It is well-known to 

 every one who has undertaken a sys- 

 tematic investigation of any subject, 

 that it is not only exceedingly diffi- 

 cult to find out anything new, but 

 even to verify or disprove the results 

 obtained by others is no small task. 



In the investigation of the process 

 of fertilization of flowers, it is neces- 

 sary to follow the course of the pol- 

 len-tubes after they penetrate the 

 stigma until they end. This must be 

 done by cutting thin sections of the 

 pistil containing the tubes in such a 

 way that their course can be traced 

 under the microscope. The difficul- 

 ty of doing this must be very great, 

 as any person who uses the micro- 

 scope will readily understand. It is 

 not strange, therefore, that there 

 should be some differences of opinion 

 among botanists as to the course of 

 the pollen-tubes. 



While some maintain that they 

 penetrate the stigma, and pass down 

 through the style until they reach the 

 ovules, others assert that this is not 

 proved. Mr. Kruttschnitt, of New 

 Orleans, whose articles on this sub- 

 ject deserve attention from botanists, 

 has tried in vain to follow the pollen- 

 tubes down to the ovary in any plant. 

 He has, therefore, concluded that fer- 

 tilization does not take place in the 

 way usually taught in the books. 



From what Mr. Kruttschnitt has 

 written to us privately, we are in- 

 clined to think he has received but 

 little encouragement in his work from 

 eminent botanists. Surely, it is an 

 important subject, and no one who 

 reads what Mr. Kruttschnitt has writ- 

 ten can deny that he has good rea- 

 sons for rejecting the opinion now 

 prevailing among botanists. Is it 

 possible that some of our eminent 

 botanists do not care to learn the 

 truth of this matter ? For our own 

 part, we trust Mr. Kruttschnitt will 

 continue his investigations. We 

 would also commend the subject to 

 microscopists generally as one worthy 

 of their study, and which will put 

 their skill in making their sections to 

 a good test. 



The Cortex of Char a. — The 

 April number of the Bulletin of the 

 Torrey Botanical Club contains a valu- 

 able contribution on the " Develop- 

 ment of the Cortex in Chara," by Dr. 

 T. F. Allen, of this city, who is well- 

 known as a student of the Characese. 

 According to the present most ap- 

 proved system, the classification of 

 these plants is based upon a knowl- 

 edge of their morphological charac- 

 teristics. The study of the develop- 

 ment of the Cortex, and of the rela- 

 tions of nodal cells is, therefore, im- 

 portant and of great use to the bota- 

 nist. Dr. Allen has given a very full 

 account of the most notable charac- 

 teristics of the cortex in many species, 

 with illustrations on seven plates, one 

 of which is printed in color. The 

 manner in which the cortex and the 

 leaves develop from the circlet of 

 cells about the node, is very clearly 

 explained, and although at best the 

 structure of the cortex has always 

 seemed to us difficult of comprehen- 

 sion by any person who has not stud- 

 ied the plants themselves, we are in- 

 clined to regard this article of Dr. 

 Allen as affording a better idea of the 

 matter than any other we have seen. 



The American Society of Mi- 

 croscopists. — We have received a 

 letter from Dr. Gleason, of Elmira, 

 in which he refers to the coming meet- 

 ing of the American Society of Mi- 

 croscopists, to be held in that city 

 next August, as promising to be a 

 large and interesting meeting. No 

 doubt it will be, if the efforts of an 

 active and well-known local society 

 will suffice to accomplish such a re- 

 sult. We are confident that no pains 

 will be spared for the good entertain- 

 ment of guests, and that all who at- 

 tend the meeting will be pleased with 

 the arrangements and the subjects 

 discussed. 



The President of the Society, Dr. 

 Blackham, of Buffalo, has issued a 

 circular giving such information as 

 those who intend to be present at the 



