Oct. 21, 1880] 



NATURE 



591 



Their form is linear, margin entire, glabrous. Each has 

 two main fibro-vascular bundles parallel to one another, 

 and two or more lateral ones, also parallel to these ; 

 they all give off lateral bundles which anastomose 

 freely. The hypocotyledonary portion of the stem ex- 

 tends to a length of about one to two inches ; it is com- 

 pressed in a plane parallel to that of the cotyledons, and 

 is slightly swollen immediately below the point of junction 

 with them. 



Though the cotyledons are completely withdrawn from 

 the seed at an early stage, a physiological connection is 

 kept up between the seedling and the endosperm by a 

 peculiar structure, produced apparently by a lateral 

 swelling of the hypocotyledonary portion of the stem. 

 The time and manner of its development I have not yet 

 been able to ascertain, but in one seedling of twelve days 

 it vvas found lying parallel to the cotyledons, these being 

 still inclosed in the endosperm, whereas in the mature 

 seeds I have not been able as yet to see any trace of it. 



This structure remains in close connection with the 

 endosperm, and is probably useful in transferring the 

 nutritive substances from it to the embr>'0 after the coty- 

 ledons have been withdrawn. As far as I can see at present, 

 this lateral structure is produced merely by a process of 

 lateral extension of tissues. The fibro-vascular bundles 

 curve slightly into the protrusion, but I have observed no 

 special modification of the tissues further than a lateral 

 extension. If this be the case, it may be considered 

 morphologically as an emergence. 



It has been already observed by Strasburger (" Angio- 

 spermen und Gymnospermen," p. 155, Plate xxii., Figs. 

 90, 91, 93) that in the ripe embryo of Welwitschia an 

 apical papilla is to be seen between the cotyledons ; but 

 his observations were conducted only on embryos in 

 mature but ungerminated seeds ; and here, as in other 

 members of the group, the plumule does not develop 

 beyond this condition of a mere papilla till germination 

 begins. In the young seedlings (about six weeks old) 

 which I have had the opportunity of observing, the 

 plumule coiiusts of two leaves, decussating with the 

 cotyledons, and between these there is an apical papilla. 

 In the most advanced specimens now growing at Kew 

 these leaves of the plumule are about one-sixteenth of 

 an inch in length, but no further development of leaves is 

 at present to be seen. 



These observations suggested a comparison with the 

 youngest specimens preserved in the Kew collections : 

 the result is the discovery of evident traces of the bases 

 of leaf-structures below the well-known pair of large 

 leaves, in the form of ragged ends of fibro-vascular 

 bundles, which run directly into the tissues of the stem. 

 These earlier leaves appear to have been at right angles 

 to those of the existing leaves of the plant, and we may 

 with good reason conjecture that they were the cotyledons. 

 Full proof of this will be afforded if the plants at present 

 growing at Kew remain healthy. If this conjecture be 

 true the pair of large perennial leaves are iJte first and 

 only pair cf leaves developed from the plumule, and not 

 cotyledons, as they have been hitherto assumed to be. 



Other interesting points in the germination of this 

 plant, together with a description of its minute histology, 

 must be deferred till a later notice. This I hope to be 

 able to publish with illustrations in an early number of 

 the Quarterly fournal of Microscopical Science. 



F. Orpen Bower 



The Jodrell Laboratory, Royal Gardens, Kew, 

 October 9 



NOTES 



In the second of a series of articles in the Pall Mall Gazette 

 " On Vain Discourse," iu the quaint and Jeisurely style of our 

 remote forefathers, the writer speaks of " the talker who thinketh 



he hath a vocation to popularise siience, not as some of our 

 masters come forth to stir up interest in these matters, but 

 from folly and emptiness." He then proceeds to define 

 him: — "He is a great breeder of vain discourse?, for he 

 deemetli that the strong meat of knowledge will sit ill on 

 dainty stomachs, and so sets himself to save them the digesting. 

 He watereth first to the consistency of a small fact to the page, 

 and sweeteneth with many a line of poetry ; and if there be a 

 tough morsel of reasoning or a sharp fragment of logical defining, 

 that he carefully throweth aside, 'et pondera rerum minutissimis 

 verbis frangit.' For seasoning there are divers sorts of lights or 

 colours or smells to wonder at, and pictures and tales, and praise 

 of the wonderful nineteenth century, and of science and of 

 such as study it. And so there is made a thin and limpid 

 pabulum, or extractum scieniiir dilutum, which will not harm the 

 delicatest, nor indeed do them any good, though it be sweet to 

 the taste and pleasant to the eyes, and have the savour of 

 wisdom. For knowledge that is worthy of being attained 

 needeth faithful striving and endeavour, and skill cometh not but 

 by assiduity in act and exercise — x"^*"'" ''''■ «"'>•"•" The lecture 

 season is now beginning, and it would be well that those who 

 attend science lectures should learn to distinguish between the 

 true and the false, and this they can easily do by applying the 

 test given by the Pall Mall. The spread of efficient education 

 in science will either extinguish the popular lecture or greatly 

 alter its character. We are glad to see the growth of outside 

 opinion on the subject, as may be inferred from the article 

 alluded to. 



We regret to record the death of Dr. E. J. Sparks, F.R.C.P., 

 of Mentone, which occurred at Crewkerne on the nth instant. 

 Dr. .Sparks has been in failing health for several years, but he 

 is one of those striking instances of what work can be done by 

 an active mind in spite of physical weakness. He was well 

 known as a constant contributor to the Medical Times, in which 

 appeared the series of letters on the climate of the Riviera, 

 which were afterwards developed into his excellent book on the 

 Health-Resorts of the Riviera. The preparation of this work 

 occupied the best portion of Dr. Sparks' later years, and it is only 

 threemonths since he revisited several of the less frequented places 

 on the Eastern Riviera for the sake of a second edition. The book 

 is a truly scientific work. Statistics relating to climate and the 

 various diseases for which the Riviera has been recommended 

 have been collected and tabulated with the greatest diligence and 

 care ; and the experience of observers, both lay and medical, as 

 to the beneficial influence of the climate is given with the 

 greatest candour. Besides this work. Dr. Sparks published a 

 few years ago a translation of Dr. King's "Therapeutics," the 

 value of which was greatly enhanced by the introduction of a 

 quantity of new matter carefully collected together from medical 

 periodicals. It was a work of no small labour, necessitating as 

 it did the transformation of all quantitative relations from the 

 German into those employed in the English aud American Phar- 

 macopoeias. It received on the other side of the Atlantic prompt 

 appreciation in a manner both hurtful and complimentary. 

 Before it could be reprinted from the stereotype plates sent over 

 for the purpose, a pirated fac-simile edition was produced by a 

 publisher who has hitherto forgotten to send a cheque. He 

 brought to his medical practice an unusually thorough knowledge 

 of the science of his profession, and a high-minded devotion to 

 the welfare of his patients which quickly secured the confidence 

 of all who consulted him. In friendship he was staunch, loyal, 

 and self-sacrificing, and his loss wiU be long felt by a wide 

 circle of friends. 



The following are among the scientific and geographical 

 publications announced for the present season : — By Mr. Mur- 

 ray : "Japan; its History, Traditions, aud Religions, with the 



