October 26, 1900.] 



SCIENCE. 



651 



explanation had suggested itself to him early 

 enough in 1899 to enable him to make a num- 

 ber of experiments that year, with a view to 

 obtaining evidence in regard to it. This theo- 

 retical explanation, in short, is as follows : As 

 is now admitted, in the process of fecundation 

 (in some plants, at least) not only is there a 

 union of one of the generative nuclei of the 

 pollen tube with the egg nucleus, but also, 

 there is a union of the second generative nu- 

 cleus with the embryo-sac nucleus. As the en- 

 dosperm develops from this nucleus thus fecun- 

 dated, it is clearly a hybrid organism also. In 

 other words, in the fecundation of the egg a 

 hybrid sporophyte is produced, but at the same 

 time the supporting gametophyte (the endo- 

 sperm) is itself developed as a hybrid. This is 

 possible because of the tardy development of 

 the gametophyte tissue, which is so delayed 

 that actually it is formed simultaneously with 

 that of the sporophyte which it bears, and 

 which it should precede. 



Charles E. Bessey. 

 The University of Nebraska. 



NEW tore: botanical garden. 



Improvements in the New York Botanical 

 Garden are going steadily forward. A contract 

 amounting to $22,000 for grading and roadways 

 near the Museum is approaching completion, 

 and a series of working greenhouses is now 

 under construction in the eastern part of the 

 Garden in a locality little frequented by vis- 

 itors. These houses comprise two main ranges 

 20 by 60 feet, storage rooms, potting sheds and 

 an independent heating plant, in which the 

 open hot water system will be used. 



The New York Central and Hudson Eiver 

 Railroad is building a new passenger station at 

 the Bedford Park entrance to the Garden. 

 The new station will be of stone and brick 

 costing about $40,000. The offices will be lo- 

 cated on the western side of the tracks, con- 

 nected by a tunnel with the extensive passenger 

 shelters and waiting rooms on the eastern side 

 which open directly into the plaza. The name 

 of the station will be changed to Bronx Park 

 (Botanical Garden) upon completion of the new 

 building which will save much confusion to 

 visitors. 



Professor L. M. Underwood spent the summer 

 in investigations upon American ferns in the 

 British Museum, Kew Gardens and the Cosson 

 Herbarium in Paris. The Cosson Herbarium 

 contains the Fe6 collection, formerly owned by 

 Emperor Dom Pedro of Brazil. The Fee col- 

 lection has the largest and best set of West 

 Indian ferns in existence. 



Other exploration work was carried out in 

 connection with the Garden is as follows : Dr. 

 Rydberg accompanied by Mr. F. K. Vreelaud 

 made extensive collections in the Sierra Blanca 

 in southeastern Colorado ; Dr. D. T. Mac- 

 Dougal explored the Priest River Forest Re- 

 serve, also carrying out investigations under a 

 grant from the American Association ; Dr. C. C. 

 Curtis made a series of collections in western Wy- 

 oming, Professor F. E. Lloyd in cooperation with 

 Professor Tracy visited the islands in the Missis- 

 sippi delta ; Messrs R. M. Harper and Percy- 

 Wilson made collections in Georgia, and Dr. 

 M. A. Howe investigated the marine and land 

 flora of Bermuda and the coast of Maine, also 

 carrying out the terms of a grant from the Pea- 

 body fund ; Dr. and Mrs. N. L. Britton made 

 a brief tour in the Adirondacks, securing many 

 living specimens of alpine plants for the 

 grounds. 



Dr. N. L. Britton is now in Europe for the 

 purpose of securing exhibits from the Paris 

 Exposition and negotiating for the purchase of 

 several herbaria. 



Contributions for the conservatories have 

 been received from many sources, the most 

 valuable of which are those given by Miss 

 Helen Gould, Mrs. F. L. Ames and Siebrecht 

 and Son. 



The fall lecture course now in progress has 

 been announced as follows : 



October 13th. 'Autumn Flowers,' by Mr. Cornelius 

 VanBrunt. 



October 20th. 'Evergreen Trees, ' by Professor F. E. 

 Lloyd. 



October 37th. 'Freezing of Plants,' by Dr. D. T. 

 MaoDougal. 



November 3d. 'Evolution of Sex in Plants,' by 

 Professor L. M. Underwood. 



November 10th. ' Poisonous Plants which Live in 

 our Bodies, and how we contend against them,' by 

 Professor H. H. Eusby. 



November 17th. ' The Sedges,' by Professor N. L. 

 Britton. 



