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upon growth have been made by Andrews" in the Leipzig laboratory. A 

 centrifugal force equal to 1,400 times the force of gravity was used. Seeds 

 subjected to this force for three or four hours were found to have their cell 

 contents displaced. The nucleus is always of higher specific gravity than 

 cytoplasm and cell sap, while oil drops are of lower. Starch and proteid 

 grains, chloroplasts and chromoplasts, have, of course, a relatively high 

 specific gravity. The cell contents of seeds so treated gradually return to 

 their original arrangement, but in case the seeds are kept dry this process 

 may take several months, whereas if they are planted in moist saw dust 

 the normal condition is usually reached within a day or two. When the 

 return of the cell contents to their usual position is slow, growth seems to be 

 retarded also. The contents of sieve tubes can be extruded by this centrif- 

 ugal force, but are reformed in time, the reformation going on twice as 

 rapidly in light as in darkness. The methods described are apparently very 

 good and we hope to gain more knowledge along these lines. Perhaps 

 quantitative measurements made in this field may at length give some insight 

 into the physics of cytology. — BuRTON E. LIVINGSTON. 



In a recent paper Dr. Harshberger'^ reports additional observations 

 along the New Jersey coast, incorporating in the article the results of Dr, T, 

 S. Githens's study of the Absecon beach strand, and promising a future paper 

 on mutation in Hibiscus Moschetctos L. Corn was found in the drier regions 

 of a salt meadow at Holly beach. Along Barnegat bay wind-swept hol- 

 lows occur which, when sufficiently deep to reach wet sand, are character- 

 ized by a swamp flora. Maps aid greatly in obtaining a clear idea of the 

 distribution of species in these wind sweeps, but have the disadvantage of 

 requiring a double translation of their legends. The appearance of fungi is 

 accounted for by the presence of drift-wood under the dunes. Ruppia mart- 

 tima L. found in Barnegat bay appears to be the only aquatic which can endure 

 the alternation of fresh and salt conditions caused by the occasional entrance 

 of the ocean through passages across the peninsula. Near Piermont occur 

 the highest dunes of the New Jersey series (40-50 feet), back of which lies 

 a deciduous forest. Lianes of the covered forest continue to grow upon the 

 dune which destroyed their original support. At Sea Side Park, on account 

 of the absence of trees, the prevailing west wind gives to the dunes a steep 

 seaward face. The shape of the coastal trees is considered to be due more 

 to sand-blast action than to the salt wind, — Laetitia M. Snow. 



Five papers dealing with the chemistry of plant life have recently been 

 published by K. Aso. In the first of these/'* it is shown that manganese 



"Andrews, F. M., Die Wirkung der Centrifugalkraft auf Pflanzen. Jahrb. Wiss. 

 Eot 38: 1-40. 1902. 



'3HARSHBERGER, J. W., Additional observations on the strand flora of New 

 Jersey. Proc. Acad. Nat Sci. Phila. 1902:642-669. 



"^ Aso, K., On the physiological influence of manganese compounds on plants, 

 ^ull. Coll. Agric. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 5 : 177-185. ph, 14-^- 1902. 



