224 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [MARCH 
a disturbance into the life cycle and a reduction division of some kind became an 
inevitable accompaniment. The places at which a reduction division might, theo- 
retically, become established in the life cycle are presented in diagram and 
described. A comparison between the life cycles of plants and animals is also 
illustrated by a diagram. ScHAFFNER believes that in the higher animals the 
condition appears to be similar to that found in Fucus. 
The significance of a transverse division of chromosomes in interpreting the 
phenomena of MENDEL’s law is illustrated and discussed. — CHARLES 
Migration of salts— In an extensive investigation of the content of nitrogen, 
phosphoric acid, sodium, and potassium in cultivated plants, both field and pot 
grown, at different periods of their development, it has been found?9 that in 
different plants the maximum absorption is completed at different periods, bar- 
ley, spring wheat, peas, and mustard attaining this maximum at flowering, while 
potatoes reach it at maturity. These substances do not remain at a maximum, 
but in the plants other than potatoes and with the exception of phosphoric acid, 
migrate back, in great part, to the soil; this seems to depend on the amount of 
_ a given substance available, being greater san say, potassium is lacking than 
if the appropriate materials are all supplied —C. R. B. 
Anatomy and affinity — Another hese SARTON, has attempted to ascer- 
tain how much help is to be had from histology in determining the validity of 
Jordanian species as contrasted with Linnean.3° He studied allied plants, sub- 
mitted them to cultivation under diverse conditions and then examined their 
structure. In some cases there were constant anatomical characters distinguish- 
ing apparently closely allied forms. On the other hand the characters were as often 
elusive and evidently directly adaptive. Plants long cultivated in the Jardin des 
Plantes and at Fontainebleau showed no anatomical differences from wild ones 
of the same species. Nor were there differences between the varieties having 
different colored flowers.—C. R. B. 
Scotch moors.—T he succession of plants in the moors of the Scottish southern 
uplands has been studied by Lewis.3! He finds that in all the localities visited 
the peat “shows a definite stratification of plant remains, indicating a swing 
from woodland to heath and moss, and again to woodland. In some districts, 
an arctic plant-bed is interposed between the lower and upper woodland: beds.” 
The- vegetation changes are probably correlated with climatic changes at the 
29 WILFaRTH, H., R6mer, H., and WIMMER, G: Veet die Nahrstoffaufnahme der 
Pflanzen in verschiedenen Zeiten ihres Wachstums. Landw. Versuchsstat. 63: 1-79 
pls. 3. 1905. 
3° Sarton, A., Recherches expérimentales sur l’anatomie des plantes affines- 
Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. IX. 2 : 1-115. pls. I4. 1905 
3t Lewis, F. J., The plant remains in the Scottish peat mosses. Pt.J. The 
Scottish southern chee Trans. Roy. Scc. Edin. 413:699-722. 
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