Igtt] MACDOUGAL—OVARIAL TREATMENTS 243 
methods might secure some evidence of value in its bearing upon 
the influence of environic factors upon germ and soma and their 
inheritance. This aspect of the matter has taken on an increas- 
ing importance, and a score of workers are now busily engaged 
in experimental inquiries by various methods for the purpose of 
securing evidence on this subject. 
An announcement had been made earlier that O. biennis was 
in a state of mutation, but the cultivation of a second generation 
demonstrated that the changes under observation were due to a 
fungal infection (1). 
he first series of reagents used were selected for the reason 
that they might withdraw water from the protoplasts or, by per- 
meating the membranes, exercise a stimulative or inhibitive action 
upon some of the features of cell action. A 10 per cent sugar 
solution, solutions of zinc sulphate in distilled water varying from 
T to 10,000, and calcium nitrate 1-1000, constituted the first lot 
of reagents. These compounds were injected into the ovaries of 
the plants named during the forenoon of the day at the close of 
Which pollinations would take place, and within 24 hours of fer- 
tilization. Every precaution was taken to prevent intercrossing 
by guarding the inflorescences both before and after the treat- 
ments. 
A common hypodermic syringe was used, and no more than a 
Portion of a minute drop remained within the densely packed 
Structures of these ovaries, although other plants have since been 
perated upon which were capable of receiving a large fraction of 
4 cc. of the reagent. With the refinement of technic, operations 
are now performed with syringes in which a plunger of ground 
glass is ground into the barrel of a hard glass syringe, to which are 
attachable needles of 14k gold, by a friction tip which permits 
thorough cleaning. Solutions are made up in non-sol glass and 
kept in flasks of the same material. 
In the case of the evening primroses, the tip of the needle was 
thrust into the ovary in a line at an acute angle with its main axis, 
and as a gentle pressure was applied to the plunger, the needle 
Was gradually withdrawn. Examinations disclosed the fact that 
many of the ovarial structures were destroyed, the larger number 
