3 
possible. The account of each will be complete in itself, and 
reference will there be made to any papers relating to the plant 
under discussion. A final chapter will be added in which the 
whole question will be reviewed and conclusions drawn ; this 
will include a more general bibliography. I believe that in this 
way a clearer view of the whole subject will be secured than in 
any other, for, while there are very few plants whose germina- 
tion is perfectly identical, there are several well-marked types 
of germination amongst monocotyledons, which might be lost 
sight of if too many examples were taken in detail. 
A few remarks on the methods I have employed in germinat- 
ing seed; preserving, cutting, and mounting specimens for the 
microscope; and in producing the photo-micrographs which 
illustrate the paper, may be of use to other workers. 
Germination of the seed.—Seed was successfully germinated 
on the surface of absorbent material such as blotting-paper and 
cocoanut fibre. Better results were obtained, especially with 
certain species, by placing the seed in pots of light sandy soil, 
the depth of sowing being equal to the thickness of the seed. A 
germinating case was experimented with, but was not so suc- 
cessful as a properly constructed propagating house. In many 
instances it was found necessary to specially arrange the posi- 
tion of the seed, so that the young plant might develop as far 
as possible in one plane, otherwise good sections could not be 
obtained. 
Fixing the specimens.—A mixture of two parts of absolute 
alcohol and one of glacial acetic acid proved thoroughly satis- 
factory, and enabled fixation to be rapidly and easily performed. 
The specimens were allowed to remain about twenty minutes 
in this reagent, were washed in go per cent. methyl alcohol to 
remove the acid, and in most cases preserved in spirit of this 
strength till required for embedding. 
Embedding:—All specimens were embedded in paraffin in the 
usual way, xylol being the solvent employed. The most generally 
useful wax was found to be that having a melting-point of 52° C., 
though occasionally one melting at a higher temperature was 
advantageous. 
Cutting the sections—In order to obtain serial sections as 
easily and quickly as possible a Cambridge rocking microtome 
was used. The most satisfactory thickness of section was found 
to be rop, and all sections figured are this thickness unless it 
be otherwise stated. The ribbon of sections in paraffin was 
allowed to spread upon warm water, while it was found necessary 
to ensure attachment to the slide by means of Meyer’s albumen 
solution. 
Staining the sections. —After having compared the results 
