248 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [SEPTEMBER 
when he speaks of the origin of a recessive Mendelian variety as a bud 
sport. The hypothesis of incomplete triple fusion is in a way a compromise 
between the inapplicable and discarded older hypotheses involving entire 
suppression of the triple fusion and the later ones involving no gross cytological 
aberrations whatever. Although heartily in accord with EmEerson’s well- 
considered views in regard to somatic mutation in general, the reviewer must 
confess to a distrust of drawing a close parallel between bud sports and anoma- 
lous endosperm development.—H. H. BartLett. 
Tubers of Nephrolepis.—Saunr® has investigated the vascular anatomy 
of the tubers borne on the underground stolons of Nephrolepis, and has un- 
covered a very interesting situation. The vascular strand of the stolon pene- 
trates the base of the tuber as a protostele for a short distance, and then 
expands into a funnel, acquiring in succession internal phloem, pericycle, 
endodermis, and “‘ground tissue.” Later the funnel-like stele breaks up, at 
the same time expanding enormously, into a hollow network of ribbon-like 
strands (each concentric in structure) inclosing gaps of irregular shape and size. 
These strands converge again into a single protostelic strand, which usually 
ends in the apical ‘“‘mamelon.” Root strands arise promiscuously from this 
reticulate stele. SAHNI calls attention to the fact that the conspicuous gaps 
that appear in this latticed cylinder cannot be explained as leaf gaps, since 
there is no trace of leaves on the tuber. He suggests that it is a case of a soli 
stele dilated sufficiently to transform it into a hollow network. TANSLEY 
has suggested that it is the dilation of a protostele that converts it into a 
siphonostele.—J. M. C 
Soil Science.—Many will welcome the founding of the new journal Soi/ 
Science. It is published tae number January 1916) at Rutgers College, with 
Jacos G. Lipman as editor-in-chief, and NicHotas Kopetorr and Cart R. 
Woopwarp as assistant editors, along with 23 consulting editors, representing 
experts in this line from various parts of the United States and from 9 foreign 
countries. The editor-in-chief outlines the scope of the journal in the following 
statement: “Soil Science is to be devoted to problems in soil physics, soil 
pation and soil biology. Papers dealing with problems in plant physiology, 
agronomy, bacteriology, or geology will be accepted only when they may 
cca directly to our knowledge of soil fertility.” He feels that greater 
cooperation will be gained among American workers on soil problems by 4 
common channel of publication, in contrast with the previous distribution of 
articles through a number of American and several foreign journals. Prompt- 
ness of publication is also of great importance. No doubt this will bring a 
welcome if only a slight relief to overcrowded journals in a number of lines.— 
WILLIAM antiaries 
16 Say AHNI, BIRBAL, eae suas anatomy of the tubers of Nephrolepis. New 
Phytol. 15: ve “BO, f2s. 3. 
