208 



The third speaker was Dr. A. E. Hitchcock of the Boyce Thomp- 

 son Institute who spoke on "Formative effects induced with certain 

 growth-regulating substances." The speaker's abstract follows : 



Regulatory and formative effects induced by naphthoxyacetic acid and 

 other naphthoxy compounds were described with particular reference to 

 modifications of leaves, flowers, and fruits of tomato and other genera. Pat- 

 terns of modified tomato leaves varied from simple types with little or no 

 dentation to frenched or fern-leaf types. Clearing of veins was character- 

 istic of modified leaves of most genera. These leaves resembled those of 

 virus-diseased or mite-infested plants. Treatment of normal flower buds with 

 powder preparations, solutions, or vapors of naphthoxy compounds induced 

 the development of seedless fruit of normal shape or in some cases with 

 a slightly conical apex. Soil treatment of tomato which caused pronounced 

 modification of new or developing leaves also induced the formation of 

 abnormally long flower buds. Spraying these buds with naphthoxy com- 

 pounds caused the development of seedless fruit which was invariably ovate 

 or oblong-ovate, indicating that the soil treatment had modified the genetical 

 mechanism governing shape. Vapor from the equivalent of three drops of 

 naphthoxy ester applied at one end of the greenhouse caused fruit set on 

 tomato plants throughout the house. Of the several indole, phenyl, naphthalene, 

 and naphthoxy compounds which induce formative effects, only the naphthoxy 

 compounds caused pronounced modifications in the patterns of leaves and 

 clearing of the veins. 



The meeting was adjourned at 4 :45 P.M. 



Respectfully submitted, 



John W. Thomson, Jr. 

 Recording Secretary 



Meeting of October 7 , 1941 



The meeting was called to order by the President, Dr. J. S. 

 Karling, at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden at 8 :20 P.M. Forty-eight 

 members and guests were present. 



The minutes of the previous meeting were adopted as read. 



It was voted that the following be admitted by unanimous ballot 

 to annual membership in the Club : Mr. Royal F. Strickland, 2227 

 Noble Rd., Cleveland Heights, Ohio ; Dr. Ralph W. Chaney, Dept. 

 Paleontology, University of California, Berkeley, Calif. ; Mr. 

 Thomas J. Cobbe, 3118 School St., Cincinnati, Ohio; Mr. Robert 

 K. Lampton, 2621 Cheltenham Rd., Toledo, Ohio; Dr. F. E. Twin- 

 ing, P. O. Box 1472, Fresno, Calif. ; Mr. Hollis Koster, Camp 

 F. W. S. 2, Absecon, N. J. ; Mr. Charles W. Slack, Box 2211, At- 



