SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
521 
Vegetation of the Kilkce Cliffs. — In a paper read before tlie Botanical 
Society of Edinburgh some time ago, Mr. James Robertson gave a sketch 
of the botanical features of the Kilkee sea-cliffs. This part of the Irish 
coast-line is exposed to the full violence of the Atlantic winds and waves, 
and thus a rock two hundred feet above high water is so copiously supplied 
with saline spray, as to afford sustenance to a colony of periwinkles which 
fringe its summit. Notwithstanding this, the marine plants which are 
found at heights varying from 150 to 400 feet, and which grow in a very 
stunted manner, illustrate in a striking way the physiological law that if 
plants can do nothing else, they must produce their flowers and fruit. 
The flora approaches the alpine type in character, doubtlessfliecause of the 
peculiar external conditions. 
Perennial Character of Spitsbergen Plants.- —We learn from the valuable 
papers of Mr. Malmgren in the May and June numbers of the Journal of 
Botany, that the plants of Spitzbergen are all perennial, and have a 
tendency to grow in small tufts. It is well known that organic substances 
decay very slowly in the Arctic regions. A wooden grave-cross, raised 
half a century ago, looks as though it were of yesterday ; and the dry 
remains of the previous year’s growth of plants stand almost unchanged 
beside the new shoots of the perennial root. One may, indeed, almost say 
that stones and minerals decay more speedily in these regions than organic 
substances. But why are the plants all perennial? The reason is obvious. 
It entirely depends, so to speak, on wind and weather, whether a plant can 
produce ripe seed during the short summer. No doubt they generally do 
so, but if in any year they failed, plants having an annual root must of 
necessity be lost, while the continued existence of the species with peren- 
nial roots would be secured. 
Caproic Acid in the Flowers of Satyrium ffircinum has recently been 
detected by M. Chautard. He distilled the flowers with water, and neu- 
tralized the acid distillate with potash. The salt thus formed was dried, 
acted on by sulphuric acid, and again distilled, when caproic acid passed 
over, and was easily recognized by its peculiar odour. M. Chautard 
believes that this compound is also present in the flowers of Orchis 
coriophora. 
Smut in Wheat. — A memoir on this subject lias been presented to the 
French Academy by M. Lavalle, who makes the following statements as 
the conclusions at which he has arrived : — 
1st. The development of this fungus brings about results, often de- 
structive of entire crops of wheat and other cereals, 
2nd. When once it has occurred in any locality, it is likely to become 
endemic there. 
3rd. It invariably appears at a fixed period — summer, — and at the 
very time when the seed has been fecundated and has begun to 
undergo development. 
4th. It may attack not only wheat, but other cereals, whilst all plants, 
wild or cultivated, of a different order are unattacked, even though 
growing among the corn. 
5th. The various fungoid maladies of cereals are all due to the same 
parasite, more or less developed. 
