46 General Notes. [January, 



It is significant that in all these recent attempts at a methodical 

 disposition of these plants, the lichens do not appear as a distinct 

 class, but are placed with the Ascomycetes (fungi), being regarded 

 by most as an order of this class. This indicates the pretty gen- 

 eral acceptance of Schwendener's views as to the nature of lichens, 

 or, at the least, of some very considerable modification of the 

 old view. 



There are hopeful indications of a gradual settling down upon 

 nearly the lines of demarkation first roughly drawn by Sachs. It 

 may be that Sachs' namss will not be retained, anl, indeed, it 

 may be questioned whether some of the more recently suggested 

 ones are not preferable. However, we prefer Protophyta to 

 Agamae, while Isogamae and Oogamae are certainly not much 

 preferable to Zygosporeae and Oosporeae. Zygophyta, Oophyta 

 and Carpophyta would be better in many respects than any yet 

 suggested. 



The Slime Moulds (Myxomycetes) sadly puzzle the botanists. 

 Their old position near the puff-balls (in the Carposporeae) they 

 have hopelessly lost, while their right to a place in the Oosporeae 

 (De Bary) or the Zygosporeae (Sachs and Gobi) is exceedingly 

 doubtful. We agree with Fischer, Bennet and Caruel in placing 

 them in or near the Protophyta. In view of Saville Kent's recent 

 endeavor to show the animal nature of Slime Moulds, it may not 

 be amiss to repeat here the remark made by us two years ago,. 

 " It is by no means an improbable hypothesis that in the Myxo- 

 mycetes we have the terrestrial phase and in the Monera the 

 aquatic phase of a common group of organisms. The Myxomy- 

 cetes are not Monera, but they are moneran in their structure, 

 and probably also in their affinities. All the differences between 

 the Myxomycetes and a Moner like Protomyxa, for example, are 

 probably referable to the terrestrial habit of the former as con- 

 trasted with the aquatic habit of the latter." (" Botany for High 

 Schools and Colleges," p. 207, foot-note.) 



1 Bennett, De Bary and Gobi's systems the greatest emphasis 



be taken of genetic relationship in any system of classification 

 needs no argument in these days, but this must not be to the ex- 

 clusion of structure, and evident structural affinities, lest the prime 

 object of all classification be defeated. — C. E. Bessey, 



Electric Light and Plant Growth— Dr. Siemens' interest- 

 ing experiments with plants grown in electric light promise to be 

 of great value not only to the student of vegetable physiology, but 

 to the farmer and gardener as well. It seems to be pretty certain 

 that in continuous light plants grow much more than when dark- 

 ness alternates with light. Dr. Siemens is, indeed, led to ask 

 whether the darkness of the night does not present a " difficulty to 



