140 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. [ June, 
forms. The original grain in each case is indicated by a darker or 
dotted shading, while the outgrowth is shown as a less colored portion. 
It will be seen at a glance that there was seemingly no “method in their 
madness.” Some germinate from the side, others from the end, while 
others still send out tubes from both side and end. In some cases the 
remnant of the pollen grain is like a shell that is found upon the back ot 
a snail, while the irregular growth of short tubes resembles the living 
portion of the snail. In some instances the pollen grain looked as ifit 
had undergone a process similar to that of the popping open of a grainol 
corn. In others there was an amceba-like mass, projecting from one 
side of the grain, having not less than a dozen arms extending in as many 
directions. In one case there is shown a grain with a broad zigzag eX 
tending band, as if the point of growth had changed alternately from 
right to left as the tube increased in length. It is doubtless true that 
the projecting pollen tube in each of the abnormal cases met with more 
than usual resistance and the place of growth was shifted to another 
part of the tube. In this way, by the increase in size taking place a 
points of least resistance, each pollen grain built up a structure peculiar 
to itself, determined by its surroundings. It is not entirely unlike the 
formation of irregular, lifeless structures when liquids undergo 
solidification or even crystallization under unfavorable circumstances 
These unfortunate Uvularia pollen grains teach us of the persistenty 
.that is inherent in these highly vitalized cells. After successive failures 
to develop long tubes they still boldly attempted to send out new ones 
‘ 2a * ry 
ot ah 2 ° 
until they perished Byron D, Hats 
EDITORIAL. 
IN THE SUBJECT of botany this seems to be an era of text-books and 
laboratory guides. Never before have so many authors essayed to satisly 
the demands of the student and teacher, and never before have students 
and teachers looked so eagerly for some book to suit their needs. / 
harvest of books is large, but the quality is of all grades. The publication 
of worthless botanical text-books is often deprecated, but it is not a ser! 
evil, except to the publishers. No text-book in these days can be otl® 
wise than short-lived which does not “ fill the want” it proposes to, and 2 
no other department is the working of the law of natural selection more 
apparent than in that of text-books. There is a class of botanists whe ae 
never satisfied until they write a book. With no disposition to add some 
thing to the sum of botanical knowledge by patient work (they call 
lack of opportunity), they conceive that the easiest thing to do is t08" 
over the knowled i 
that requires co . 
ical judgment, a happy method of thou ht and expression, it is to 7 
a text-book that will live. The young sia Sects by read justing ~ 
other> 
