May 27, 1898.] 



SCIENCE. 



753 



The plants are remarkably peculiar in form 

 and remarkably simple in structure, and prob- 

 ably represent degraded remnants of a more 

 complex ancestry. The environment 'which 

 they meet because of the peculiar habitat must 

 have had a powerful influence in reducing them 

 to their present rather stereotyped morphology. 

 For while it has now been shown that there 

 are considerable variations in species, and a 

 goodly number of both species and genera are 

 represented, one is struck by the constantly re- 

 curring facies running through many of the 

 different genera. 



The members of the family are attached to 

 the legs or bodies of insects, usually those in- 

 habiting damp or wet localities. An individual 

 ■consists of a simple stalk for attachment, which 

 bears a simple elongate perithecium as a lateral 

 appendage, or is terminated by the same, while 

 the antheridia may terminate the plant, or oc- 

 cur as a simple or tufted lateral growth. By 

 studies of the development of a large number 

 of species, and by the examination of a large 

 series of forms, the limits of specific variation 

 have been quite well determined, so that a 

 •fairly good basis has been established for the 

 recognition of species and genera, and the sys- 

 tematic arrangement of the known forms can 

 be presented with a good deal of confidence. 



The discovery by Karsten, as early as 1869, 

 of a trichogyne on the perethicium, and the fu- 

 sion with it of bodies resembling the sperm cells of 

 the Rhodophycete, indicating sexuality in these 

 plants, has been fully confirmed by Dr. Thaxter's 

 ;studies, and we need now only the knowledge 

 of the actual nuclear fusions in the diflfereut 

 steps of fertilization to show how the ascus orig- 

 inates as a result. The female organ shows a 

 striking resemblance to the trichophoric appa- 

 ratus in certain of these algis, as suggested first 

 by Karsten. These investigations serve to con- 

 firm this view, and the conclusion is drawn 

 that this family of ascomycetes has originated 

 from the Floridefe, and may possibly have been 

 the point of origin of the ascomycetous fungi, 

 Twenty-eight genera and one hundred and 

 fifty-two species are described and illustrated ; 

 the larger majority of these are named by the 

 author. 



Geo. F. Atkinson. 



A Report on the Work and Expenditures of the 

 Agricultural Experiment Stations for the Year 

 Ended June 30, 1S97. By A. C. True. U. S. 

 Department of Agriculture, Ofiflce of Experi- 

 ment Stations, Bulletin 50. 1898. Pp. 97. 

 This valuable document should be perused by 

 every friend of science in America. Dr. True, 

 the Director of the Office of Experiment Sta- 

 tions, has not only followed the work of the 

 stations from his oflice in Washington for many 

 years, but has himself visited and critically in- 

 vestigated every one of them. Unlike many 

 critics of station work, he has been slow in 

 arriving at conclusions ; erring, if at all, on the 

 side of extreme caution rather than of haste. 

 His natural bias of mind seems to be conserva- 

 tive, and added to this is his evident sense of 

 the responsibility of his position ; so that we 

 may be sure his criticisms and suggestions for 

 reform are only those which he has felt forced 

 to make in the face of overwhelming evi- 

 dence. 



Yet we read these words (pp. 6-7) : "In one 

 respect the past year has been a period of un- 

 usual discouragement to those who have the 

 best interests of the experiment stations at 

 heart. From changes in the constitution of the 

 governing boards, due to legislative action, 

 changes in the Governors having power of ap- 

 pointment or removal of members of these 

 boards, and other causes, the Directors of the 

 stations in ten States and Territories have been 

 changed since the last [annual] report was pre- 

 pared. In several cases the Directors removed 

 had had long and successful experience in the 

 management of the stations and had made their 

 work increasingly useful. In these and other 

 cases the removal of the Director was accom- 

 panied by a further reorganization of the station 

 staff. * * * The numerous changes in the 

 station staffs recently made are calculated to 

 shake faith in the wisdom of committing the 

 stations so fully to the control of the local 

 boards." 



Taking the stations separately, we find : 

 Idaho. — " The station has fallen behind in its 

 publications; its finances have been in an un- 

 satisfactory condition, and its operations have 

 been very largely of a superficial character." 

 Kansas. — " Out of fourteen persons constitut- 



