SPECIFICITY OF PROTEINS AND CARBOHYDRATES 97 
5. The reactions of the members of a genus constitute a well- 
defined group, the mean of the character-values constituting a distinct 
generic type. 
6. When a genus consists of subgenera, or groups of rhizomatous 
and tuberous plants, or tender and hardy plants, etc., there may be 
as many subgeneric types as there are groups. 
7. When subgeneric types exist they may be bridged in part by 
intermediate characters of a hybrid that is the offspring of members 
of such types. 
8. The generic types belonging to a given family tend in general 
to exhibit closeness or separation in accord with established botanical 
data. 
These researches have been of a purely exploratory character. 
No attempt has been made to establish by sufficiently repeated experi- 
ments and otherwise what may be accepted as character-constants, 
but rather to establish certain principles and a foundation or starting 
point for final investigation. In fact, there remains much to be done 
in the way of preliminary work before the final studies are begun. 
Particularly important is it to extend the period of observation, 
modify the concentrations of some of the reagents, introduce addi- 
tional reagents, improve the polarization and the iodine and aniline 
methods or eliminate them, and study the stereoisomers of successive 
generations in relation to various conditions that influence heredity. 
Considerable advances must be made in order to demonstrate satis- 
factorily certain taxonomic differences that undoubtedly exist, and 
also to set forth satisfactorily these differences in the form of com- 
posite charts. In such composite charts as constructed up to the 
present no difference may be shown between two starches in a given 
reaction, yet the records may show that during the progress of gelatini- 
zation more or less marked differences were recorded. Hence, in 
taxonomic studies it is essential to consider collectively all three kinds 
of charts, and in association with the histological characters and 
qualitative reactions. In other words, in the ultimate analyses and 
comparisons we must utilize the sum-total of characters and character- 
phases. 
In conclusion, it need scarcely be stated that limitations of time 
have made the presentation of so extensive a topic of a somewhat 
scrappy character, and that notwithstanding the incompleteness and 
various defects of these researches facts and principles of epochal 
