1915] BRYAN—ARCHEGONIUM OF SPHAGNUM ‘SUBSECUNDUM 43 
: Methods 
For this investigation almost daily killings were made, from the 
middle of September to the middle of November. The killing 
agent used was 0.25 chrom-acetic, cold, and heated to various 
temperatures up to 52° C., the best results obtained being at about 
30°C. At this temperature there was practically no plasmolysis 
in the delicate young stages, and the quick penetration made cer- 
tain the securing of any figures that might be present in the material. 
The higher temperatures were not satisfactory, causing more or 
less plasmolysis and leaving the material difficult to stain. Safranin 
in combination with Licht Griin, and Haidenhain’s iron alum 
hematoxylin were used as stains. 
Development of the archegonium 
HISTORICAL 
The archegonium of Sphagnum has been the subject of a number 
of investigations. Of the early papers the most important is the 
elaborate monograph of ScuimpER (10). According to this in- 
vestigator the archegonium, arising directly from the apical cell 
of a branch, begins its development by an apical cell with two 
cutting faces, just as in the true mosses, and forms in this manner 
about 6 cells. The events that follow, being beyond the technique 
of that time, are described in a hazy manner and may be passed 
over here. Paraphyses are said to occur among the archegonia. 
The brief account given by HorMEISTER (5) does not differ 
from that of SCHIMPER. 
In 1869 LertcEs (8), while working out the development of 
the antheridium, found a few female branches, and on each, one 
archegonium was being formed, arising directly from the apical 
cell of the branch, but whether the divergence of the division walls 
is one-half, as Hormetster and Scutmper thought, or whether, 
as in the antheridium, there are smaller divergences, and further- 
more from what cells the secondary archegonia arise, he is unable 
to say because of a lack of material. 
The account given by JANCZEWSKI (7) in 1872 may be sum- 
marized as follows. The apical cell elongates and is divided by 
