120 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [FEBRUARY 
morphology and ecology illustrated by this highly specialized 
family. ce 
Root tubercles upon spring and autumn grown legumes: B. D, 
Hatstep, New Jersey Agricultural College.— The ninth succes- 
sive crop of wax beans upon the same plot, grown in the spring, 
consisted of plants whose roots were abundantly supplied with 
large, nearly spherical tubercles. The plants of the succeeding 
crop grown in the summer upon the same soil had very few 
tubercles. The cause of this difference was sought in the soil _ 
conditions. During the early growth of the spring plants the 
soil was considerably cooler than in August when the second 
crop was passing through the initial stages of development. 
There was, doubtless, also less available soil nitrogen in the com- 
paratively cool earth of May than in the warmer ground of 
August. The nitrifying germs, being more active in midsummer, 
plants. The spring crop, not having this ample supply, was 
“nitrogen-hungry,” and this furnished the proper condition for 
the abundant development of the tubercles. Successful inoculé 
tion of the plants with soil-extract or the pure culture of the 
tubercle germ, “ nitragin,” is dependent largely upon soil cond 
tions and many widely varying results may thus find an expla- 
nation. 
Further notes on the comparative embryology of the Rubiaceé: re 
E. Lioyp, Teachers College.— The genera studied include” 
Houstonia, Rubia, Sherardia, Vaillantia, Crucianella, Galium, and 
Asperula. | 
Galium. The condition in Asperula is not completely cleat, - 
the writer thinks that a larger number of antipodals are Pie 
