27 
GENETIC INVESTIGATION OF OEEFIS. 
The Genetics Division of the Agricultural Depart- 
ment of the University of California is investigating the 
genus Crepis.. This genus is remarkable in having sev- 
eral species with very low chromosome numbers, that is 
with only six, eight and ten chromosomes in the somatic 
cells — Three, four or five, respectively, in the germ cells. 
Breeding experiments with and cytological studies of 
several European species are now under way. One of these 
is Crepis capillaris (virens) which has been introduced 
into California. The Division would like to receive 
seeds of this or any other species of Crepis found in 
California, especially such native species as occidentals 
and nana. Because of the low chromosome numbers, 
this genus seems, to offer promising material with which 
to test various recently proposed theories of heredity 
and evolution which have aroused widespread interest 
among biologists. Packets may be addressed to the 
Genetics Division, College of Agriculture, Berkeley. 
THE VITALITY OF REDWOOD 
In behalf of the Save the Redwood League, Dr. W. 
L. Jepson gave a lecture, illustrated by lantern slides, 
upon the life history of the Redwood at the regular 
meeting of February 14. The Redwood trunk normally 
contains no resin, a fact of utmost importance in a forest 
so subject to the hazard of fire. When a tree is finally 
burned down or overthrown hundreds, or even thou- 
sands, of crown sprouts arise, some of which eventually 
grow to the size of the parent tree. This circle of 
trees makes at, nr near, the surface of the ground, a 
continuous woody growth around the hollow occupied by 
the parent tree. This hollow is spoken of as a “goose 
nest.’] The diameter of the “goose nest” is often taken 
as evidence of the existence of gigantean prehistoric 
trees up to 84 feet in diameter. This reasoning is, 
however, fallacious. The circle may arise at some dis- 
tance from the trunk on the outer part of the root- 
crown, or again, a third circle may arise externally to 
the first circle, or yet again a goose nest may become 
much enlarged by fire. Furthermore, a circle may, and 
frequently does, arise around a pair iof trunks standing 
closely together. 
The Redwood is frequently spoken of as a relic, as 
a survival. It is indeed a survival, but a most success- 
ful survival. No other conifer equals it in its pro- 
digious forest stand, probably no other conifer has to 
such a degree immunity from disease, no other conifer 
has such remarkable vitality — such unusual reproduc- 
tive power, and no other conifer has so successfully de- 
veloped means for resisting forest fires. On account of 
its unique systematic position and its historical and 
biological interest we find the reasons for desiring a 
large body of primitive Redwood to be set aside as a 
National Redwood Park for recreation uses and for the 
purposes of scientific investigation. 
