96 
EDWARD TYSON REICHERT 
been repeated, even though under varying laboratory cond'tions as 
regards temperature and humidity, the results have been either iden- 
tical or have differed so little as to be absolutely unimportant. As to 
the latter, it will be found that the records are to an astonishing degree 
in harmony with established botanical peculiarities, and that where 
perchance there may be departure the causes therefor are usually 
not far to seek. It perhaps is needless to state that as great care and 
technical skill may be required to conduct successfully such experi- 
ments as are demanded where the methods are in the conventional 
sense exact, and consequently that much training may be necessary 
before one is fitted to make permanent records. 
In these researches it has been found desirable to record the 
quantitative gelatinization values in three kinds of charts, each 
presenting in its own particular and impressive way certain striking 
peculiarities which are not at all or not so well exhibited by another. 
One kind shows the progress of gelatinization in time-percent reaction 
curves of the starch with a given reagent; another, the differences in 
gelatinizability of different starches with a given reagent; and another, 
composite curves of reaction-intensities of a given starch with a number 
of agents and reagents, by means of which types of curves of varieties, 
species and genera are obtained. 
From these investigations the following fundamental statements 
are deduced : 
1. The results of the haemoglobin and starch researches are 
mutually confirmatory in proving the existence of different stereo- 
isomeric forms that are specifically modified in relation to varieties, 
species and genera, in other words, stereoisomeric specificity in relation 
to taxonomy; and that such specificities indicate corresponding 
specificities of the protoplasms that give rise to these different forms. 
2. The reaction-intensities of different starches with a given re- 
agent vary within wide limits, and vary with each reagent indepen- 
dently of the variations of other starches. 
3. The reaction-intensities of varieties of a species very closely 
correspond with those of the species and they are in accord with 
botanical characters. 
4. The reactions of different species of a genus exhibit characters 
in conformity in general with the values of the distinguishing botanical 
characteristics of the members of the genus, the species-characters 
varying in degree of closeness or separation in accord with correspond- 
ing botanical peculiarities. 
