354 
Botany at the British Association. 
discussion which followed, Professors H. H. Dixon, F.R.S., 
and R. Robinson, F.R.S., took leading parts. 
Friday morning found Prof. J. McLean Thompson ad- 
dressing the Section on ‘ The Meaning and Evolution of some 
Floral Characters ’ ; Mr. J. Walton on * The Physiological 
Anatomy of the Fossil Genus, Rhexoxylon, compared with 
that of some modern Lianes ’ ; Dr. H. S. Holden and Miss 
Dorothy Bexon on ‘ The Seedling Structure of Acer pseudo- 
platanus (Sycamore) ’ ; Miss L. Prankerd and Miss F. M. O. 
Waight on ‘ The Presentation Time and Latent Time for 
Reaction to Gravity in Pteridophytes ’ ; and Dr. W. L. Balls 
on * The Growth Structure of a Cell Wall/ whose conclusions 
in some way seemed to traverse the views of cell wall structure 
enunciated by Dr. Wilfrid Robinson in a paper which the latter 
had read before the Royal Society. This brought Dr. Robinson 
to his feet in the discussion, which invariably followed a paper, 
and for a brief period a lively little debate ensued. 
Then followed Prof. A. H. R. Buller (Univ. Manitoba) on 
‘ The Organisation of the Hymenium of the Common Mush- 
room and its Allies for the Production and Liberation of 
Spores ’ ; Dr. Malcolm Wilson on ‘ The Cytology and Life- 
history of Tuburcinia ’ ; and Miss K. B. Blackburn and 
Dr. H. Harrison on ‘ The Meiotic Phase in the Salicacese/ 
from which it incidentally transpired that no longer can the 
willows be accounted absolutely dioecious ; for in several of 
the species both sex organs of reproduction have been found 
on the same plant. Friday’s full and interesting sessions were 
brought to a close by a paper on ' Somatic Chromosomes/ by 
Mr. W. C. F. Newton. 
The papers were fully illustrated by blackboard and other 
diagrams, or by lantern slides ; while practical illustrations 
were copiously afforded by microscopes, micro-preparations, 
and fresh and dried plants, in a separate room specially set 
apart for the purpose — a feature which, it was said, was more 
prominent at the late meeting than had been usually the 
case previously. Further, in this connexion it was most 
gratifying to notice how Associates (of the Botanical Section 
particularly) visited and highly appreciated the admirable 
Exhibition by the Yorkshire Naturalists’ Union, of the natural 
history resources, products and survey work of the local 
societies of Yorkshire. 
On Saturday, 9th September, and following day, work 
indoors was suspended for field operations. 
The Monday morning session, nth September, was 
devoted to a Joint Discussion between Section K (Botany) 
and Section D (Zoology), which took place before a large 
audience in Queen’s Hall, the subject being ‘ The Present 
Position of Darwinism.’ Dr. J. C. Willis, F.R.S., opened, 
Naturalist 
