648 REPORT— 1889. 



The vascular cylinder of the root a bundle-system, not a single bundle. 



Annual rings. 



Sieve-tubes. — Discoveries of Wilhelm and Fischer. Hypothesis that the com- 

 panion-cells have a secretory function. 



Sliding Groioth. — Short vessels of Dracaena, all Kny's results confirmed. 



Apical Meristem. — Importance of the apical cell as essentially a part of the 

 emhryonic protoplasm. 



Origin of lateral roots. 



Anatomy of the Algce. — Discovery of sieve-tubes in brown seaweeds. Parker, 

 Will, and Oliver. 



Anato7ny of the Mosses. — Presence of a distinct conducting system. Haber- 

 landt and Vaizey. 



Anatomy of reproductive structures in need of further investigation. 



Importance of anatomical characters in classification. Urgent need of pro- 

 found research from this point of view. 



Methods. — Further advance to be expected from the adoption of more perfect 

 means of investigation, as in zoology. 



Hopeful future of anatomy in imion with physiology and general morphology. 



4. On Botanical Gardens for Elementary Schools. By Philip Sewell. 



With a view to facilitate botanical study, Mr. Sewell gave details as to the 

 construction of small botanical gardens in connection with Merchiston and other 

 private schools near Edinburgh, a Board-school at Dunfermline, and an ' Institute 

 for the People ' at Morton, near Manchester. 



He showed that the cost in each case was trifling, and also gave hints as to the 

 best methods of laying out these gardens, and as to the choice of plants. 



The possible industrial value of practical botanical teaching in connection with 

 horticulture was hinted at ; but Mr. Sewell's chief point was that such gardens 

 might serve to arouse an interest in the elementary study of science. 



5. The Protection of Buds against the Sun. By M. C. Pottek, B.A. 



6. The Biology of Erythrina Lithosperma. By M. C. Potter, B.A. 



7. On the Effects of Boot-section on the Vitality of Pasture Plants. 

 By Professor W. Feeam, B.Sc, LL.D., F.L.S. 



In the course of some investigations into the herbage of old grass lands which 

 the author carried out last year, tiu-fs nine inches in depth were dug from a 

 number of old pastures in England and Ireland, and transferred to one and the 

 same place, where they were planted to permit of growth and observation. The 

 species growing upon each turf were identified, and, after careful separation, the 

 specific constituents of the herbage were severally weighed, and the results tabu- 

 lated. In the discussion that followed the publication of the results, it was argued 

 that certain grasses, conspicuous by their infrequent appearance and small percen- 

 tages on these turfs, had been killed by cutting at so ' shallow ' a depth as nine 

 inches. Whilst admitting the established fact that certain plants send their roots 

 to a considerable depth, it appeared to the author that some confusion had been 

 made between root-range, on the one hand, and the effects of root-section, on the 

 other. To settle the point at issue, the following plants were selected : — 



Alopecurus jnritensis, L. — Meadow foxtail grass. 

 Avena elatior, L. — False oat-grass. 

 Dactylis glomerata, L. — Rough cocksfoot grass. 

 Elymus condensatus. — Canadian bunch grass. 

 Festuca pratensis, Huds. — Meadow fescue grass. 



