910 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XXIX. No. 753 



Are Alpiiie Plants exposed to Increased Evapora- 

 tion? Chables H. Shaw, Ambler, Pa. 

 Schimper, Flahault, Schroeter and others lay- 

 considerable emphasis on the fact that alpine 

 plants are exposed to more rapid evaporation. 

 Their statements appear to rest on the fact that 

 air movement increases and pressure decreases 

 with altitude, and upon instances of apparent 

 rapid drying, and upon the xerophilous character 

 of many alpine plants. 



During the summer of 1908 two series of porous 

 cup atmometers were set up in the Selkirks at 

 altitudes ranging from 800 to 2,788 meters. The 

 stations from 800 to 1,700 meters (first series) 

 were on the same hillside, had the same exposure, 

 and were separated by a total horizontal distance 

 of less than one kilometer. Those from 1,800 to 

 2,788 meters (second series) were located as far 

 as possible with similar exposure on Mt. Grizzly, 

 and included a horizontal distance of about one 

 ana a half kilometers. 



Two stations were chosen at each altitude, since 

 a substantial agreement would afford a test of the 

 reliability of the scheme. The instruments of the 

 first series were in continuous operation twelve 

 weeks and those of the second series, for shorter 

 periods. The weather was unusually favorable, 

 there being little rain, clouds or frost during a 

 term of seven weeks. Weekly readings were taken. 

 In most cases the instruments of the several pairs 

 gave approximately the same result. 



The maximum in every case was found at the 

 second station, at 1,100 meters altitude. At in- 

 creasing altitudes, there was a gradual and irreg- 

 ular diminution. 



The results of the first series appear to be un- 

 questionable, as also a certain portion of the sec- 

 ond series. Taken together they seem to exclude, 

 so far as these mountains are concerned, the idea 

 that evaporation increases with altitude. 



Possibly the standard writers may have over- 

 looked the part played by temperature, which is a 

 factor in the evaporation rate, and might more 

 than counterbalance the results of the other two 

 factors. 



The above data represent only weekly totals. 

 The possibility of excessive evaporation at high 

 altitudes during certain portions of the day re- 

 mains to be studied. 



Mitosis in CEdogonium: A. H. Tuttle, University 



of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va. 



A brief review was given of the work of pre- 

 vious observers, and a statement of facts that ap- 



pear to have been overlooked by them, or whose 

 significance has not been noted. 



Attention was particularly directed to the 

 change in size and the marked change in form of 

 the dividing nucleus; and, in addition, to the per- 

 sistence of a distinct nuclear contour until a very 

 late stage in the anaphase, also to noteworthy 

 features in the mode of formation of the chromo- 

 somes, and in their behavior before, during and 

 after splitting. Facts of importance regarding the 

 formation and persistence of the achromatic figure 

 were also presented, with others pertaining to the 

 behavior of the daughter nuclei. 



Preliminary Notice of Physiological Studies on 

 Pa/paver somniferum : R. H. Teue and W. W. 

 Stockbeegeb, U. S. Department of Agriculture, 

 Washington, D. C. 

 This paper discusses some studies made on the 



opium poppy, showing the distribution of oxidizing 



enzyms in the plant, the distribution of morphin 



and the relation of morphin production to oxygen. 

 The following papers were read by title: 



Orientation of the Cotyledon of Wheat and Corn 

 Seedlings Stimulated hy Light: S. 0. Mast, 

 Woman's College, Baltimore, Md. 



Some Fundamental Errors in Botanical Teaching: 

 E. C. Jeffrey, Harvard University, Cambridge, 

 Mass. 



Methods of Demonstrating the Oxidizing Power 

 of Roots : Howard S. Reed, Virginia Polytechnic 

 Institute, Blacksburg, Va. 



The Collection aiid Storage of Tree Seed: Hxjqh 

 P. Bakeb, Pennsylvania State College, State 

 College, Pa. 



Preliminary Report of the Result of Observations 

 on the Relation of Evaporation to the Treeless- 

 ness of the Prairies: Bohumil Shimek, Univer- 

 sity of Iowa, Iowa City, la. 



A Summer Laboratory for Mountain Botany in 

 Colorado: Fbancis Ramaiey and W. W. Rob- 

 bins, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colo. 



The Morphology and Development of the Cysto- 

 carp in Callithamnion Baileyi: R. P. Hibbabd, 

 Mississippi Agricultural • Experiment Station, 

 Agricultural College, Miss. 



subsection b 



Two North Carolina Plant Diseases: Hypochnose 

 of Apple and Collet otrichose of Fig: F. L. 

 Stevens and J. G. Hall, North Carolina Col- 

 lege of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts, West 

 Raleigh, N. C. 

 Hypochnose of apple, pear and quince, which is 



widely distributed throughout the United States, 



