Fan. 13, 1870] 
NATURE 
293 
verting chamber. On one side of the vessel or chamber is a pro- 
jection, v, on the upper part of which a ring of fire-brick, 2, is 
retained in place by a conical flanged iron ring, +. The opening 
in the ring w serves for the admission of the molten metal to the 
vessel, after which the cone y smeared with fire-clay is lowered 
down into the opening of the moulded fire-brick zw, and by means 
of the weight zis retained in place and prevents the escape of 
gaseous matters during the converting process. 
The cone, y, and its rod and weight, z, are suspended by a 
chain in the position shown during the period of running in the 
metal. When the metal so run in comes in contact with the 
nitrate or other oxygen-yielding materials, large volumes of 
gaseous matters are evolved, these matters instead of escaping 
freely from the converter rapidly accumulating in the vessel until 
the pressure within it is sufficient to raise the cone g, and escape 
by the small annular opening thus made, the pressure being regu- | 
lated by the weights. Hence the combustion of the carbon 
contained in the molten iron by reason of its union with oxygen 
derived from the decomposition of the nitrates or other oxygen- 
yielding materials will be effected under considerable pressure ; 
and the gaseous products, instead of expanding freely as under 
the ordinary conditions of combustion, will be ina highly con- 
densed state, by which means their temperature will be consider- 
ably raised, and the intense heat so generated will be imparted 
to the metal and cause it to retain its fluidity. 
It will be extremely interesting to watch the working of this 
new process. 
BOTANY 
[We have been favoured by the Count Marshal of Austria with the 
following abstracts of Botanical papers read at the Innspruck Congress. ] 
Prof. Hildebrand on the Impregnation of Plants 
PLANTS intermediate between Papaveracee and Fumariee gave 
the greatest quantity of seeds when impregnated with the pollen 
of another individual of the same species, less when the pollen 
was taken from another flower of the same individual, and least 
when the impregnation took place within the flower itself. For 
Lschscholtsia Californica, the proportion of seeds in these three 
cases was as 24 to 9 to 6. Professor Fenzl says that he obtained 
abundance of seeds from two species of Adbztilon by fecundation 
with pollen from other individuals, and that these operations are 
best performed between $ and 9 A.M. 
Prof. Fenzl on the Genus Lupinus 
SEEDs are with difficulty obtained from plants of this genus in 
the gardens of Vienna, probably on account of the unfavourable 
condition of the soil. The species of this genus are still very far 
from being duly determined, and two-thirds of them, at least, 
may be eliminated. Professor Koch observes, that the greatest 
amount of seeds is to be obtained in sandy soil, and that the great 
number of hybrids are merely varieties in form; the different 
colours of blossoms being a result of external agents, in the same 
way as Vymphea gives us lengthened leaves when impregnated 
with the pollen of Magnolia. 
Bail on Androgynous Inflorescence 
SUCH inflorescences have been found on Zea, Populus, Fagus, 
Carpinus, Betula humilis and Betula alba, as also on Pinus 
nigra, the small scale, considered as a part of the female blossom, 
developing itself into an anther. 
Prof. Koch on Transformations of Parts of Flowers 
IN a fruit of Solanum melongena, the five anthers have been 
transformed into five smaller capsules. A capsule of poppy offers, 
in the centre of its cavity, a small elevation (the continuation of 
the axis), bearing a number of smaller capsules. 
Prof. Bail on Parasitic Fungi on Insects 
Empusa, attacking especially the larvae of the Fir-Moth, in- 
vades also those of Bombyx Caza, which were found, sitting on 
branches of oaks, birches, and firs, killed by this parasite. Larvae 
of Cossus ligniperda, of all sizes, all thickly covered with the 
white mucor issuing from their bodies, were found beneath the 
bark of a completely dried-up birch. These larvee being kept in 
moist pots, Penicillium glaucum broke out first from their bodies, 
and was soon superseded by /savi@, the larvee being covered with 
moist moss. Those of Afe/olontha mazalis are, as well as the per- 
fect insect, destroyed by fungi. The destructive action of the fungi 
has, however, been exaggerated by the periodical press. Of more 
than 4,000 larvee from about ten forest-districts of Prussia and 
Pomerania, scarcely 29 to 30 per cent. haye been destroyed by fungi. 
The chief morbific fungi were Jsaria farvinosa, identical in all de- 
tails of structure with Penrcillium, and Cordiceps militaris. The 
Melanospora parasitica Tulasne, found (1858) on all specimens of 
Ysayia in the environs of Meran, and on those which had come 
to their full development, is considered by Dr. Bail to be the 
higher form of fructification of Aotrytis Bassiana. Cordiceps 
militaris, with thick, carneous, orange-yellow fructiferous clubs, 
differs altogether from Zaria. : 
Prof. Koch on the Formation of the Germen 
THIS is not, as generally supposed, a concretion of so-called 
“Fruit-leaves.” The germen is part of an axis, supporting the 
parts of a flower ; it may be longer or shorter, as these parts are 
more or less distant from each other. The apex of the recep- 
tacle, or of the axis in general, may become suddenly stationary, 
and be wrapped up in plastic cellular tissue, a cavity open above, 
including the ovules (inferior germen), being thus formed ; or this 
cavity includes the germina, either non-connate with the inner 
wall (Rosa, Calycanthus, etc.), or connate with it (Cotoneaster, 
many Leffosperms), or mutually connate, as in the Pomaceous 
fruits. Such a fruit-receptacle not infrequently includes whole 
blossoms (/7cws). The development of the genuine apex proceeds 
in two ways. Either the formation of cellules proceeds from the 
apex itself (as generally in inferior germens), and then its basis is 
the newest and the apex the oldest portion ; or the new formations 
proceed from the margin of the wall, enlarging upwards, the 
increase ending in the uppermost portion, as in the fig. "Professor 
Schuler observes, that this takes place only in figs ripened in the 
second half of the year, whenever the refrigerating action of the 
north wind has retarded their growth. Professor Koch replies, that 
the same increase of the margin is observable in the fruit of the 
Leguminose. Probably the germina of Pafpayacee, Passifloree, 
Capparidee, and genuine Liliacee, likewise take their origin from 
the axis. The abnormal growth often observed on roses, a sudden 
prolongation of the axis through the cavity of the fruit-bearing 
blossoms (sometimes 3 above each other) and leaves, proves the new 
formations to proceed from the included centre of the extreme apex. 
Prof. Martins on the Flora of Southern France 
MANy genera of the miocene and pliocene deposits of this and 
other countries are represented in the living flora of South France. 
Such are Laurus nobilis, L. (= Laura canariensis), Ficus carica, 
Punica granatum, Pinus Aleppensis (found fossil in Unalaska), 
Cercis siliguastrum (near Aix), and Nerium oleander, in some 
localities near Toulon and Nice. All these species have lived 
through the glacial period ; they exist now, however, only on the 
banks of rivers and rivulets, in localities protected against cold. 
It must be observed that severe cold is not the necessary conse- 
quence of extensive glaciers. A decidedly Indian form, not yet 
found fossil, is Anagyris fetida (Piptanthus Nepalensis, Don.), 
which brings forth its leaves in October, and its blossoms in 
January and February. Other extraneous forms are: AZyrtus 
communis (represented in Peru by Myrtus myricordes), Chamerops 
humilis (near Villefranche and ‘Toulon, represented in the 
Caroline Islands by Cham. serrudata, Pursh, and Cham. hystrix), 
and Ceratoniasiligua, whose native country is still doubtful. Cham. 
humilis is now extirpated by the avidity of collecting botanists. 
Professor Koch says that Avxagyris fetida belongs rather to the 
Cytise, or Genistece, than to any exotic family, and doubts 
Ceratonia silligua being a leguminose. Professor Martins re- 
plies that he thinks Avag. fetida to be closely related to Zher- 
mopsis, and observes that about 200 Lapland species occur 
in South France; that the littoral plants are partly the same as 
those on the coasts of the Atlantic, except Spartina versicolor, an 
exclusively American form, and hints at the importance of the 
study of fossil plants for the thorough knowledge of those existing 
in the present period. 
Prof. Hildebrand on Marsilia 
SPECIMENS of this plant, growing beneath the surface of 
water, regularly produce leaves which spread over its surface, 
and follow its level, while, if kept dry, they never produce such 
leaves. The leaves grown in air have stomata on both their 
surfaces ; those grown in water have stomata only on their upper 
surface. Dr. Reichardt observes, that wild specimens of JAZars:lia 
have constantly been found provided only with large floating 
leaves. Professor Hoffmann says, that abundant fruits are ob- 
tained from Aarsilia by cultivating it in slimy soil. Professor 
Hildebrand remarks, that specimens grown in water, and not 
bearing fruit, propagate themselves with astonishing rapidity 
without any fecundation. 
