280 Reed. — A Study of the Enzyme-secreting Cells in the 
many artefacta in the sections. When part of the material was stained 
with Mann’s Eosin-Toluidin Blue and part with Iron Haematoxylin, the 
resulting sections gave very different appearances. The preparations 
made with the former stain were relied upon because of their similarity to 
the sections of living cells. 
IV. Observations on the Absorbing Organ of Phoenix 
dactylifera. 
The absorbing organ is a button-shaped structure which is located in 
the date-seed on the side opposite the furrow. By means of the enzyme it 
produces, it dissolves the hard, ivory-like endosperm of the seed, and absorbs 
the soluble material for the use of the young plant. At first the absorbing 
organ is about the size of the head of a pin, but as germination progresses 
it enlarges and finally fills all the space formerly occupied by the endosperm. 
If we make a longitudinal section of this organ after the radicle has begun to 
protrude, it will be found to have a mushroom shape ; under the microscope 
it is seen to be composed of thin-walled parenchyma-cells with large inter- 
cellular spaces. In the radicle the cells are elongated, but they approach 
a spherical shape in the head of the absorbing organ. Near the margin of 
such a longitudinal section the cells are smaller and have contents different 
from the other cells. The entire surface of the head of the organ is covered 
by a layer of short, columnar cells. 
A. Studies of Living Material. 
Cells in the resting seed. The cells of the epidermal layer contain, in 
addition to the large spherical nuclei, fine hyaline granules in the cytoplasm. 
The other cells of the absorbing organ contain similar small granules and, 
in addition, numerous larger granules, all of which give the test for proteid 
with re-agents. The epidermal cells do not contain as much granular 
material as the other cells of the absorbing organ. 
Observations upon seedlings five days old. At the end of this time 
the absorbing organ has increased to nearly twice its original size. The 
epidermal cells contain approximately the same amount of proteid matter 
as before, but in the form of larger granules. The nuclei of these cells are 
large and distinct, and each is at the centre of the cell. 
Observations upon seedlings twelve days old. The radicles have not yet 
appeared outside of the seed. Except for continued enlargement, the sec- 
tions of the absorbing organs are much the same as in the previous stage. 
The epidermal cells contain more proteid in the form of fine granules, but 
the nuclei are unchanged. 
Observations upon seedlings twenty -two days old. The radicles of the seed- 
lings average 2-5 cm. in length. The epidermal cells of the absorbing organ 
