964 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. V. No. 129. 



result of changed conditions were pointed out. 

 The effects of the same conditions on the para- 

 site were also considered. Finally attention 

 was called to the cumulative effects of 

 the attacks of parasitic fungi and other or- 

 ganisms. It was shown in certain cases that 

 when plants are attacked by fungi there is a 

 temporary expenditure of vital energy, and as a 

 result metabolic processes are brought about 

 which may put the host in a more receptive 

 condition for further attacks. The following 

 case was cited : "A disease of a greenhouse 

 plant is in a specific case due to the attacks of 

 a fungus which kills the leaf in distinct spots. 

 These spots are frequently so numerous as to 

 entirely destroy the plant. The disease de- 

 velops naturally under certain rare conditions 

 in the greenhouse. These conditions, however, 

 can be produced artificially in the case of indi- 

 vidual plants, and in such instances the spores 

 of the fungus, which are always present in the 

 house, will infect and in a short time produce 

 the characteristic injuries. Now, by following 

 this method for several months and causing the 

 new leaves to become infected as they appear, 

 the plant eventually gets into a condition when 

 it can no longer resist the fungus. If the leaves 

 are all cut off at this time the new leaves will 

 be attacked as fast as they appear, without tak- 

 ing any precautions to surround the plant with 

 conditions that will make it susceptible. The 

 cumulative eflects of the fungus, in other words, 

 has probably resulted in bringing about the 

 metabolic changes that at the outset had to 

 be brought on by conditions of light, heat and 

 moisture. ' ' 



Mr. V. K. Chesnut presented a paper entitled 

 ' The Poison of the Black Nightshade (Solanum 

 nigrum. L.),' being a brief account of solanine. 

 This glucoside-like alkaloid, although not a 

 remarkably poisonous substance, is the active 

 constituent of the plant. It is present in the 

 leaf and berry, but in varying amounts accord- 

 ing to conditions of growth. It is greatest in 

 heavy-scented plants, but in some the amount 

 is so small that the berry is edible, and has 

 even an attractive taste. Severe cases of poi- 

 soning have, however, attended the use of the 

 plant ; so it can not be recommended as a food. 

 The variation in chemical composition was at- 



tributed to the cosmopolitan nature of the 

 plant which enables it to thrive well in different 

 environments. Attention was called to the fact 

 that the berries of Solanum triflorum, a native 

 of the Great Plains region, was poisoning cattle 

 in Nebraska. 



F. A. Lucas, 



Secretary. 

 BOSTON SOCIETY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



A General Megting was held April 21st, 

 fifty-nine persons present. 



Mr. Herbert Lyon Jones spoke of the biolog- 

 ical adaptations of our seashore plants, and de- 

 fined the physiological differences between them 

 and our ordinary plants. The classes and 

 characteristics of seashore plants were men- 

 tioned, the vertical position of the leaves and 

 the reduction of leaf surface noted. 



The danger of too great a quantity of salt in 

 the tissues of seashore plants is reduced by 

 changes which reduce transpiration of water ; 

 adaptations follow the needs of plants; the 

 fruit is especially adapted to withstand the 

 effects of water. The differences and similari- 

 ties between the plants of the seashore and 

 desert plants were pointed out and illustrated 

 by a series of lantern slides. 



Samuel Hbnshaw, 



Secretary. 



NEW BOOKS. 



The Chances of Death and other Studies in Evolu- 

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Contribution toxuards a Monograph of the Ldboul- 

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An Essay on the Foundations of Geometry. Ber- 

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The Induction Coil in Practical Work. Lewis 

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