254 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [APRIL 
ments. Beyond this it could not be traced, although it seems 
reasonable to suppose that some action extended beyond. At 
the same time, numerous endostomes could be detected which had 
taken on a marked stain. Not only were the external cells colored, 
but the action extended inward some distance. 
The study of the movements of dyes yields some profitable 
suggestions as to the probable mechanical movements of reagents 
introduced into ovaries for the purpose of affecting the egg appara- 
tus or the pollen tube. The coloring matter was not seen to pene- 
trate farther than a point separated by five or six protoplasts from 
the egg nucleus. The pollen tube carrying the fertilizing nucleus, 
however, may be compelled to pass through or among cells taking 
up any foreign substance, so that only the two walls and the 
cytoplasm intervened. It seems, therefore, that the greater 
weight of probability lies on the side that the proembryonic 
affectation of the germinal elements of a seed plant is one m 
which the possible changes are to be supposed to be due to the 
action of the reagent on the pollen nucleus rather than on the 
embryo sac. 
The care of treated plants until the seeds in treated ovaries have 
matured and may be harvested has absorbed much effort, since 
in many species the plants may ripen a few seeds daily, and collec- 
tions must be made frequently. Next after the harvesting of the 
seeds, sowings must be made at the proper time of the year. In 
the case of species of the desert it has not been found profitable 
to attempt germinations except at the customary time, else enor- 
mous fatalities may occur. Many of the forms which offer 
particularly favorable conditions for ovarial treatments are slowly 
developing perennials, which need several years to reach te 
stage in which they may produce seeds and thus furnish a second 
generation. 
At the present time, seedlings from treated ovaries are 
observation as follows: Echinocereus Fendleri, Echinocacls 
Wislizeni, Brodiaea capitata, Fouqueria splendens, Sphaer anes 
pedata, Pentstemon Wrightii, Phytolacca decandra, Opuntia discata, 
Carnegiea gigantea, Amsinckia spectabilis, and Solanum eleacgnt- 
folium. Of these, lots from successive seasons are under observe 
under 
