1880. ] Botany. 80 3 
phytes, and not cormophytes, the only true cormophytes being 
certain alge (Caulerpa, Chara); and that the leaf has the same 
structural significance in the phenogams and higher cryptogams, 
ut that there is nothing in the lower cryptogams which cor- 
responds to it—W. T: 
INFLUENCE OF HIGH AND Moist TEMPERATURES ON GERMINA- 
TION.—The action of high and moist temperatures on germina- 
tion has been recently studied by M. Hackel, who put seeds of 
black mustard ( Sinapis nigra) on a moist sponge placed ina plate 
whose bottom was constantly covered with water, and kept the | 
whole in a stove with constant temperature at 48° C. In less 
than twelve hours radicles were formed in a large number of the 
seeds (but none such were observed in seeds in the water kept 
there—they never generated). The seeds, having sent out their 
radicle, stopped while the temperature remained at 48°, but when 
it was lowered to 20° or (better) 17.5°, there was a rapid develop- . 
ment of germs. Neither Sinapis alba nor Lepidium sativum gave 
a reproduction of the phenomenon. The substances, benzoate of 
soda (known to arrest the development of ferments), benzoic acid 
and sulphurous acid, were proved to be capable of suspending the 
germination of various seeds—English Mechanic. 
NECTAR, Irs NATURE, OCCURRENCE AND Uses. — Under this 
heading Mr. William Trelease contributes to the report on Cotton 
insects lately issued by the Agricultural Department, an interest- 
ing essay, accompanied by a good plate and full b.bliographical_ 
references. He concludes that “ nectar, whenever it occurs, may 
be considered as excretory, reproductive, protective or nutritive ; 
that in some cases, e. g., the leaves of the peach, excretory nectar 
may possibly be protective also; that reproductive nectar usually 
s in the flowers but not always; that protective nectar 
Seems, in some cases, designed to keep ants from defoliating and 
deflowering the plant; in others, to keep larve from destroying 
the foliage or immature fruit; that nutritive nectar may serve, in 
some cases, to lead to the capture of wingless, in others of winged 
insects, and finaily that thé vital force of a plant is taxed so little 
in the production of nectar, that glands once developed an 
endowed with the power of active secretion may continue to 
