141 



■cal tests) often causes large losses to florists, especially in pro- 

 ducing the "sleep" of carnations. 



Science (May 6) in the botanical notes mentions an archaic type 

 of seed from the Palaeozoic rocks which was first discovered in 

 1875 in England by Professor Williamson. It is 5-6 millimeters 

 long and ribbed ; the ten ribs forming so many separate arms 

 which project beyond the nucellus for a considerable distance. 

 The plants which bore these seeds have not been found ; but 

 Professor F. W. Oliver who described them (^Annals of Botany, 

 Jan., 1909) thinks the plants belong to the Cycadofilices, and that 

 the seed is " the most primitive seed that has yet come to light." 



Under the caption " Children of the Land " the Ojitlook (April 

 23) recently described the great school garden movement in 

 Canada. It is really much more than that, for through the mu- 

 nificence of Sir William MacDonald under the management of Dr. 

 Robertson (formerly of MacDonald College) a systematized 

 attempt is being made not only to " adjust the schools and train 

 the children that the children will be attracted to rural occupations 

 and will be qualified to remain in them," but to give "practical 

 illustrations of how the occupation in each locality may be made 

 more attractive, profitable, and satisfymg to those engaged in 

 farminp-." 



Professor Ira D. Cardiff, at the winter meeting of the American 

 Association for the Advancement of Science described some aber- 

 rant walnut fruits from two trees, one in Indiana and one in Ten- 

 nessee. The fruits (see also the Plant World for April) have a 

 walnut-like basal part, while the opposite partis smooth and four- 

 furrowed, suggesting the hickory. In all the endocarp is walnut- 

 like ; the trees in general aspect, bark (except for some hickory 

 characters in the Tennessee tree), and leaves are walnuts. Cross- 

 pollination is not believed by Professor Cardiff to account for the 

 conditions ; in each case the nearest hickories are (now) 30 meters 

 from the trees under discussion, and the hybrid (?) character of 

 the fruit is found in " that portion of the nut produced by the 



