July 15, 1910] 



SCIENCE 



95 



linating — up to fifteen hours — different ovaries 

 were injected witli one of three solutions. 

 Solution one was obtained by macerating one 

 part by volume of seeds of the red variety in 

 four parts water. Solution two was made by 

 macerating the flesh of ripening fruit of the 

 red variety and adding 50 per cent, water. 

 Solution three was made by macerating pollen 

 from the red variety in about nine times its 

 bulk of water and filtering. 



Seed was obtained from most of the in- 

 jected ovaries, but the resulting fruits gave 

 absolutely no trace of red coloration. The 

 seeds from the treated ovaries were again 

 planted in sterilized soil and gave nothing but 

 normal Golden Queen fruit. 



I have no doubt but that an experiment of 

 this kind seems utter foolishness ; most experi- 

 ments yielding negative results do. Biolo- 

 gists, however, have generally accepted the 

 suggestion of physiological chemists that life 

 processes are in the nature of enzyme proc- 

 esses. Perhaps this is because one is behind 

 a safe barrier of ignorance when he speaks of 

 enzymes. But in the case of plant sap colors 

 and animal pigments there certainly is reason 

 to believe that their production is accelerated 

 by enzyme action. If this is true, color-pro- 

 ducing enzymes should show action com- 

 parable to that of other enzyipes. As to the 

 general properties of enzymes, however, little 

 is known. Perhaps they can be stated in the 

 following definition. Enzymes are catalysts 

 that have thus far been produced only by living 

 organisms. Two of their properties may be 

 mentioned that especially interest us here: 

 one, which they hold in common with inor- 

 ganic catalysts, that of changing the rapidity 

 of progress of a reaction already initiated, but 

 not, appearing in the final product; the other, 

 that of possessing colloidal nature and a large 

 molecule. The size of the molecules of all 

 known enzymes and their colloidal nature 

 makes it improbable that any extract contain- 

 ing a color-producing enzyme should reach the 

 ovules of a treated ovary; it is not at all im- 

 possible, however, that such an extract might 

 come in contact with the male nucleus as it 

 is journeying from the stigma to the micro- 

 pyle. Further, if one may argue from the 



work that has been done on artificial digestion, 

 enzymes should be able to do their work after 

 extraction. This work, then, simply shows 

 failure under the conditions described. It 

 may be that failure should always be expected, 

 yet with proper analysis of some of the at- 

 tendant physical and chemical processes, some 

 valuable results might be obtained. 



E. M. East 

 Habvaed Univeesity 



>/ trough faulting est the southern 

 adirondacks' 



For some years certain prominent physio- 

 graphic features in the eastern Adirondacks 

 have been regarded as due chiefly to normal 

 faulting. Thus, many of the conspicuous 

 mountain ridges, lakes, and drainage lines 

 strike north-northeast and south-southwest 

 and are undoubtedly largely dependent upon 

 faults striking in the same direction. Within 

 the pre-Cambrian crystalline rock area, it is 

 almost impossible to work out these faults in 

 detail, but, along the border of the Adiron- 

 dacks, where the Paleozoic sediments over- 

 lap upon the crystallines, the faults are often 

 well shown, especially where they affect both 

 the pre-Cambrian and Paleozoic masses. At- 

 tention is here directed to the well-known 

 series of Mohawk valley faults which nearly 

 all downthrow on the east side, often have 

 branches, and sometimes extend northward 

 into the pre-Cambrian area. The faults and 

 minor cross faults of Clinton county, near 

 Lake Champlain, are also well known. Thus 

 far no rather extensive trough faulting has 

 been definitely described in the Adirondack 

 region, the comparatively small trough block 

 between the Little Falls and Dolgeville faults 

 being perhaps the best illustration. It is the 

 purpose of this article to call attention to a 

 case of trough faulting on a large scale and 

 also to point out the probable importance of 

 this type of faulting in the Adirondacks. 



Within the Broadalbin quadrangle (Fulton- 

 Saratoga counties), which the writer is at 

 present engaged in studying, detailed work 



' Published by permission of the New York 

 state geologist. 



