1909] CURRENT LITERATURE 79 
extent of this region to the length of the elongating zone. Piccarp’s method of 
1904, which has lately been justified by HABERLANDT,’* is considered by NEw- 
COMBE as “‘too precarious to be satisfactory.’ All the phenomena, he concludes, 
‘accord equally well with the hypothesis of the extension of the sensitiveness 
through the elongating zone, but diminishing from the apex backward; or.. . 
of a more equable sensitiveness through the elongating zone, and a stronger 
autotropism in the posterior than in the anterior part.” We should much prefer 
the former hypothesis; if for no other reason, because it is unfortunate to postulate 
*“fautotropism” when it can be avoided.—C. R. B 
Development of Marchantia.— Because no consecutive account of the develop- 
_ ment of the sexual organs and sporogonium of Marchantia, complete in itself, 
has been published by one author, DuRAND, while preparing slides for class use, 
has published an account of the development illustrated with a close series of 
figures.25 The account contributes little which is new to students making a 
critical study of this form. For the first time, although it has been illustrated by 
URTIS, formal attention is called to the familiar “mushroom anchor” foot. 
One striking feature in the development of the sporophyte has been overlooked: 
the sterile plate of cells at the apex of the capsule, and also the occasional appear- 
ance of a columella, which in some instances extends entirely through the center 
of the capsule. Because of its relation to the theory of sterilization of sporogenous 
tissue this plate of cells and the occasional columella should have some attention. 
The nucleus of bacteria——Merver claims*¢ that the following methods will 
differentiate a nucleus in the bacteria. The particular form used was Bacillus 
Pasteurianus. First method: boil in water, stain 24 hours in hematoxylin, and 
eieage: in weak ehigrer acid. The nuclei of young spores are sharply 
ined. Second method: fix in Flemming’s solution, harden in 20 per cent. 
EE stain in Delafield’s hematoxylin, and differentiate with hydrochloric acid. 
Third method: fix in Flemming’s solution, harden in alcohol, stain in iron alum 
hematoxylin, and differentiate under the cover glass with ammonium ferrosulfate. 
Judging from the figures, this method gives the best results. 
4 In the opinion of the reviewer, the fact that MEYER does not believe that any 
nucleus has as yet been demonstrated in the Cyanophyceae would not inspire 
_ confidence in his interpretation.—CHARLES J. CHAMBERLAIN. 
Anatomy of Sapotaceae.—Incidentally, in seeking the origin of laticiferous 
tissue in Sapotaceae, Miss SmrrH??7 made anatomical studies of seedlings of fourteen 
a4 — GAZETTE 47:482. 1909. 
. URAND, Extas J., The development of the sexual organs and sporogonium of 
. M chan deseo co Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 35:321-335- pls. 21-25- 1908. 
S EYER, ARTHUR, Der Zellkern der Bakterien. Flora 98:335~340- Jigs. 3 
— 190d. 
: 27 SMITH, WINIFRED, The ences of some sapotaceous seedlings. Trans. Linn. 
_ Soc. London II. 7:189-200. pls. 25, 26. 1909. 
