1198 The American Naturalist. [December, 
varying results. Of these, three prevented the smut entirely, although 
injuring the vitality of the wheat to a certain extent. Six other treat- 
ments reduced the smut to less than one per cent. The three first 
mentioned were (1) soaking for twenty-four hours in a five per cent. 
solution of copper sulphate; (2) soaking for thirty-six hours in Bor- 
deaux mixture (copper sulphate two and two-third Ibs., lime five lbs., 
water four gal.); (3) soaking for twenty hours in a five per cent. solu- 
tion of potassium bichromate. Of the six treatments which effected a 
reduction of the smut to less than one per cent., that in which the 
seed was soaked for fifteen minutes in water at a temperature of 132 
degrees Fahrenheit was the simplest, and, all things considered, the 
best. The investigators give it their approval for general use. — CHARLES 
E. BEssEY. 
A Key to the Mosses.—Professor Charles R. Barnes, of Madi- 
son, Wis., has done a good thing for the students of mosses by pre- 
paring a handy key to the genera and species found described in 
Lesquereux and James’s * Manual." A somewhat hasty examination 
of it indicates that it is well calculated to aid the beginner. Copies 
may be obtained of the author for fifty cents each. 
Reserve Food-Materials in Buds and Surrounding Parts. 
—Professor Halsted's paper on this topic, published in the Memoirs 
of the Torrey Botanical Club, is a valuable contribution to our 
knowledge of the nutrition of the shoot in early spring. He takes up 
in order terminal buds, lateral buds, and twig sections. Naturally the 
most important reserve material was found to be starch, and its distri- 
bution occupies the greater part of the paper. It is found quite gen- 
erally at a short distance below the growing point. Grape sugar is 
present in all terminal buds. Other cell-contents are discussed in the 
paper, and the suggestive fact is recorded that crystals ** are especially 
numerous in the cellular tissue that lies between the leaf scar and the 
bud above it." They are abundant also “ just below the growing tips 
of all buds." 
In the study of twigs several interesting and unexpected things come 
out, as, for example, the fact that the spines found upon many trees 
and shrubs are more or less well filled with starch. As to these the 
author makes the following remark: “It is very likely that the spines 
are primarily for the warding off of enemies, but if we can look upon 
the protective organs as serving another purpose, it adds further dig- 
nity to the police department, so to speak, of the plant." A couple 
of pages are given to methods and reagents, and two plates serve to 
illustrate the histology of the paper. 
