. Seientific Intelligence—Botany. 31d 
delta of the Mississippi more than 57,000 years ago; and the ten 
subterranean forests, with the one now growing, establish that an 
exuberant flora existed in Louisiana more than 100,000 years 
earlier, so that 150,000 years ago the Mississippi laved the magnifi- 
cent cypress forests with its turbid waters.—(Sir J. C. Nott and 
Geo. R. Gliddon, Esq., on the Types of Mankind.) 
15. The Effect of Coloured Light on Germination.—To deter - 
_ mine the commercial value of any seeds, one hundred of them are 
placed in a pot in a stove-house for the purpose of quickening the 
process of germination. If all the seeds germinate, the seed ob- 
tains the highest value in the market. If only eighty germinate, the 
seed loses 20 per cent. in value. This process ordinarily occupies 
from twelve to fifteen days; but Mr Lawson found that by using 
blue glass they are enabled to determine the value of seed in two © 
or three days; and this is a matter of such commercial import- 
ance to them that it is quite equal toa gift of L.500 a-year.—(Pro- 
ceedings of the Royal Polytechnic Society.) 
16. Origin of the Wheat Plant.—Some curious botanical facts 
have recently been laid before the French Academy, relative to the 
transformation of two grasses, Avgilops ovata and the Aigilops tria- 
ristata. M. Esprit Fabre of Adge, in France, has shown that the 
above grasses were capable of being the source of all or the greater 
part of our species of wheat. He first sowed the seed of the Ovata 
in the fall of 1838. In 1839, the plants grew to a height of two 
feet, and ripened in the middle of July. The ears here and there 
had one or two grains in them. The crop was five for one, and the 
straw was brittie and thin. In 1840, the seed of 1839 produced 
ears more numerous, and generally each contained a couple of grains 
of an appearance more like wheat. In 1841, the ears were more like 
wheat, and each had from two to three grains. The figure of the plant 
was almost like wheat. In 1842, the fourth year of his experiments, 
the progress was not so sensible as in the previous year. Many of 
the plants were attacked by rust. The stalks were like gilops. 
The ear gave two or three grains each. In 1843, the stalks grew two 
feet high. In each ear were two or three well-grown grains, and the 
_ straw was stronger. The figure of the plant was like wheat. In the 
year 1844, all the ears were filled. In 1845, the seventh year, the 
plant had reached the condition of true wheat. These experiments 
were made in an inclosure surrounded by high walls. There was 
no grass inside of it, and no grass raised near the spot. In 1846, 
he sowed this grain in a field broadcast, and continued it four years. 
In 1850, the straw was full, straight, over two feet high, and each 
ear contained two or three dozen grains of perfect wheat. Thus a 
savage plant, subject to cultivation, changed its entire figure and 
aspects, and gradually assumed a new character. 
