1128 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



of starch grains. He then points out that they can be distinguished 

 from one another by eleven particulars which tend to show that starch 

 is made up of several substances in varying proportions, but definitely 

 arranged. A reserve grain formed by protoplasm out of sugar contains 

 from the " hile " outwards: (a) a colloidal substance with cellulose; 

 (b) granulose in addition ; (c) the peripheral layer is elastic, probably 

 consisting of an anhydride of cellulose; (d) sometimes dextrine, or maltose, 

 dextrose, &c, are present, probably the results of alterations. 



Illustrations are given showing the successive effects of reagents, as 

 chromic acid, upon starch grains, revealing the colloidal and crystalloidal 

 substances arranged in separate lamellas, that is at the point of origin of 

 growth, and in the alternate lamellae the colloidal substance preponderates 

 associated with the crystalloid cellulose ; whereas in the other layers the 

 crystalloidal substance, consisting for the most part of granulose, occurs 

 in greater proportion. — G. H. 



Stem Formation. 



Stem, The Formation of the Outer Layer (Berindung) by the 

 Leaf-base. By L. J. fielakovsky {Flora, vol. xc. 1902, pp. 433-465 ; 11 

 woodcuts). — In Char a it is very evident that the outer layers of the stem 

 are formed by the base of the leaf ; and Hofmeister showed that in 

 Equisetum, Selaginclla, and the immense majority of leafy plants, this 

 rule holds good. His conclusions have been recently attacked by Tobler ; 

 and Celakovsky has maintained and extended Hofmeister's views. There 

 are no unutilised bare intervals between the youngest leaves whose 

 bases at first cover the whole surface of the stem ; and as it is impossible 

 for imaginary non-existent organs, such as "lines of separation " between 

 adjacent leaves, to enlarge into existent ones, internodes, where present, 

 must be formed from those regions of the leaf-base that grow longitudi- 

 nally and tangentially more than they do radially. — M. H. 



Fructification of Stereum hirsutum. 



Stereum hirsutum, The varying 1 Symmetry of the Fructifica- 

 tion Of. By H. Goebel (Flora, vol. xc. 1902, pp. 471-476; 2 cuts).— 

 Herbert Spencer notes that the form of the pileus of Agaricus noli tangere 

 may be a radial or eccentric and bilateral structure, according as it is 

 isolated or one of a cluster, and that Lentiscus flabclliformis, growing 

 on trees, turns up its trunk to bring the cap horizontal, and that this is 

 also of the bilateral type, the side next the trunk being least developed. 

 Goebel finds Stereum on a fallen Alder develop a radial pileus on either 

 the upper or under surface, but an eccentric on the flanks of the tree ; 

 these lateral ones have the hymenium turned towards the ground, while 

 the radial ones have it turned towards the substratum. The results may 

 be due to the effect of unilateral illumination favouring the growth of the 

 Bide more remote from the trunk. — M. H. 



Effects of Low Temperature. 



Suspension of Life at Low Temperatures, On the.— Note by 

 Allan Macfadyen and Sydney Rowland (Ann. Hot. vol. xvi., No. 64, 



