72 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [yor 
particularly valuable in ea scattered data together in compact forsiay a 
thoug Say may va to their interpretation 
w term of sdaasdestion is introduced i “‘Cycadophyta,” 
istinad: Pciipetia (Cycadofilices), Bennettitales, and Cycadales. 
author also discredits somewhat the value : = ontogeny of the vascular s 
tures as indicating their phylogeny.—J. 
Osmosis and osmotic pressure—A revolutionary paper upon the n 
of osmosis and osmotic pressure, has: been published by KaHLENBERG,33 
‘is, he claims, no such ae as a strictly semipermeable membrane, since 
movement in the reverse direction always occurs, though it is often insigni 
or practically negligible. The force concerned in osmotic processes 
merely in the specific ities between the solvent and the solutes, but p 
in their relation to the ee whether it be called “‘potential ene 
solution,” ‘‘internal pressure,” or (as KAHLENBERG prefers) “chemical a 
In measuring osmotic ficbaiities ie which he devised a new apparatus i TT 
the liquids is absolutely essential—a factor not previously reckoned with; 
a general rule, solutes conform to the behavior of gases, however closely some 
water may do this. The r deserves the closest attention from every phi 
ologist; yet the hes evidence against KAHLENBERG’s conclusions must 1 
be forgotten.—C. R. B 
The vitality of buried seeds.—Duvet gives a preliminary account of e2 
ments on the vitality of buried seeds,34+ of some of the common economic Pp 
and weeds of the United States, representing rog species, 84 genera, and 34 
lies. In December, 1902, eight to twelve lots of each species of seeds” 
buried at three depths: 15-20, 46-56, go-105 °™. A sample of each is to 
taken up at sh te periods and tested for vitality along with controls 5! 
in a dry pl 
Tests is a date show the following results. In some cases none of eith 
controls on the buried seeds grow. Among these are: Axyris amaranth 
Bursa bursa-pastoris, Polygonum pennsylvanicum, P. persicaria, P. sca 
33 KAHLENBERG. L., On the nature of the process of osmosis and osmotic 
sure, with observations concerning dialysis. . Journ. Phys. Chem. 10:141-209- 
Published also in Trans. Wis. Acad. 15:209-272. 19¢ r 
34 DuvEL, J. ss T., Vitality of buried seeds. Bureau Plant Indy Bul 
pp. 22. pls. 3. 190 
