428 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 
with a little ingenuity and mechanical skill, one may construct a stand for dis- 
secting which will equal in efficiency any of the simple microscopes offered for 
sale, 
a 
a half-inch, magnifying respectively 10 and 20 diameters. If one already has 
i BR, Bee 
Method of Spore Germination.—-In view of the difficulty experienced 
‘in growing the spores of those Pteridophytes whose prothallia are destitute of 
chlorophyll, the following experiments, though incomplete, may perhaps be of 
service for further investigations : 
The spores were sown upon the surface of fine earth, in shallow earthen 
Ww: shall 
m were made to germinate, 
‘and small prothallia were obtained. In this case germination did not occur 
the construction of the frames used was due to a suggestion of my brother, 
. Edward D. Campbell, on my explaining that I wished to contrive some means 
of easily getting at spores that were to be sown under ground.—-Dovaxas H. 
CAMPBELL, Detroit, Mich. a 
structive exhibition of germinal tubes. The same may be said of pollen grains, 
heey the addition of a little nectar or sugar to the fiuid,.in. this case, 1s 
al.— : 
filled, pinch-cock near the lower end), U-tu 1] be 1d 
convenient. T tube should be sealed with potassic hydrate so that the air 
which enters the bottle, as its contents is used, may bubble through this liquid 
in the t d be deprived of the carbonic dioxide which would other- 
cause a precipitate in the bottle. By such an arrangement one may always 
have clean pota ydrate in any quantity without annoy m the pelli- 
nce 
cle of potassic carbonate, sure to be formed in open bottles, the sticking of glass 
Stoppers, or the dissolution of cork ones.— - B. 
ing of Protoplasm —The streaming motion of protoplasm — 
crept or so times. The temperature of a comfortable room is about right, 
Katt jess heat the movement is very slow. Success is more certain if the 
Care should be taken in removing the membrane; for the cell walls are 
very delicate and easily wrinkle, forming unsightly and annoying, irregulét 
lines over What should be the clear open cell. : 
The material commends itself for its accessibility at any time, and espe 
