216 BOTANICAL GAZETTE lua 
male and female ; Strasburger, who makes the erythrophilous or cyanophi- 
ous condition dependupon abundant and impoverished nutrition respectively, 
burger’s, and also quotes Rosen’s researches upon meristem as contradicting : 
the nutrition theory. The author claims that the reactions in Narcissus at q 
also at variance with Strasburger’s views. It seems to us that the usa 
embryo sacs at least afford no contradiction to Strasburger’s theory, and {fom 
the description Narcissus does not appear to be any exception to the me — 
The fusion of polar nuclei is regarded as an act of fertilization and the end 
sperm as a new plant. : 
The author killed his inaterial in alcohol, and though he imbedded itinpar 
affin, he preferred the ordinary razor to the microtome.—C. J. CHAMBERLAS — 
WACHTER has been carrying on experimental studies on water plants 
with a view to making clearer our knowledge of the relations existing betwee E 
leaf form and external conditions.© Goebel's work on similar problems sg j 
gested the nature of the experimentation, and the author's results conirs : 
Goebel’s previous conclusions quite fully.” The first part of the paper teas 
of the influence of external agents on various monocotyls, especially Sagittae a 
It is well known that leaves developed in deep water are narrow, while those 
developed in shallow water are much broader and often sagittate in om 
species. Goebel showed that this, like other leaf forms, is pam a 
Wachter conducted all sorts of experiments, producing both types of ‘ 
at will. Plants grown on the land developed broad leaves, while 
leaved land forms developed narrow leaves when placed in water. 
] 
cal study of Weddelinia, and the third part describes the mare 
mental work on Nymphza, which are quite similar in gene 
those described above for monocotyls.—H. C. COWLES. adi 
IT HAS RECENTLY been shown by Professors Babcock and peg 
University of Wisconsin that the ripening of cheese is pale is 
the presence of proteolytic enzyms, normally contained in _ duri : 
ence has not before been recognized. Heretofore the cle —): a 
ripening Process have been wholly ascribed to the action of bacteria : i“ : 
© Flora’83 : 36 ~ ; : —348. 1897. ilderung " 
7 See Bot, Pit m4 : ae ; Ai : ‘ 1. 1850; Biologische Schil aft 
%® Flora 80: 96-116. 1895; 82: 1-13. 1896. | 
Centr, f. Bakt. u. Paras. 37: 615-620. 1897. 
