1900] BRIEFER ARTICLES 139 
act by destroying the lignin and leaving pure cellulose, or by trans- 
forming the wood into a brown brittle substance. The changes are 
brought about by an enzyme, and their extent is determined by the 
formation of decomposition products which stop the enzyme action at 
a certain point. Six forms of wood destruction were described, of 
which specimens and photographs were shown. 
F.H. Bropcerr: Vegetative reproduction and multiplication in Erythro- 
nium. (By invitation.) 
The author described the common origin, within the bulb, of the 
runners and annual bulbs; they come from axillary buds between 
the base of the stem and the inner bulb scale. He described also 
the development of the first bud from the seedling. From the seed the 
life cycle occupies not less than four years, probably longer in most 
cases, during which time several plants are developed. 
Henry Kraemer: Zhe structure of starch grains. (By invitation.) 
The author discussed the meaning of the different appearances 
given in drawings of starch grains by different authors, some drawing 
the hilum as light and others as dark, and showed that the differences 
are due to the particular view (z. e., focus) of the grain taken by the 
student. Treatment with iodine and aniline colors shows that the 
layers consist of substance rich in colloids but poor in crystalloids, 
alternating with substance rich in crystalloids and poor in colloids. 
he opinions of other authors as to the meaning of these layers were 
discussed. 
Ropney H. True: The toxic action of a series of sodium salts. (By 
invitation.) 
From experimental results worked out by Drs. Kahlenberg and 
True, the latter formulated the results presented. After studying the 
toxic action exerted on roots of Lupinus albus by a series of acids, and 
by their Na salts, it was determined, in view of the ionization of those 
compounds, to make an analysis of their toxic action into the partial 
toxicities due respectively to H ions, anions, and un-ionized molecules. 
The results were presented in detail. 
F. E. LLoyp: Further notes on the embryology of the Rubiaceae. (By 
invitation. ) 
A continuation of the author’s studies which formerly covered only 
the Stellatae, but now include Diodia, Cephalanthus, and Richardsonia. 
