Notes . 
38 7 
Very little accurate information has been recorded with reference 
to the changes which may take place in the reserve materials of seeds 
during prolonged keeping under conditions unfavourable to germina- 
tion, and it seems to me desirable that a careful analysis should be 
made in a number of such cases when opportunities occur of obtaining 
suitable material. 
E. HAMILTON ACTON, Cambridge. 
St. John’s College Laboratory, 
June 10, 1893. 
THE ALEURONE-IiAYER OP THE SEED OP GRASSES.— 
The various botanists who have investigated the seeds of grasses, have 
made conflicting statements as to the precise nature of the contents of 
the cells composing the so-called aleurone-layer. For this reason, 
and on the strength of some unpublished observations of his own, 
Professor Vines suggested to me a re-investigation of the subject, at 
the same time putting forward the hypothesis that the cells in question 
chiefly stored up phosphates. 
Not to enter too deeply into the history of the subject, it may be 
said that the aleurone-layer was, for a long time, regarded as simply 
and solely a reservoir for proteids. 
In 1872, S. L. Schenk 1 published some observations of the contents 
of the aleurone-layer of the wheat-seed. He stated that the grains, 
which formed the chief portion of the contents of the cells, did not 
consist of proteids. He found that these grains gave no proteid 
reactions ; were insoluble in ether and alcohol, in water, and in dilute 
hydrochloric acid ; and that they were not attacked by proteolytic 
ferments. 
Later Johanssen 2 pointed out that fatty oil was abundant in 
the cells, as also proteid grains which were easily soluble in water. 
Liidtke 3 stated that the cells contained protoplasm, oil, and aleurone- 
grains. He said that the aleurone-grains were insoluble in water or in 
dilute caustic potash, and that they contained no globoids or other 
enclosures. 
1 S. L. Schenk, Anatomisch-physiologische Untersuchungen, pp. 32-37. Wien, 
1872. 
2 W. Johanssen, Sur la gluten et sa presence dans le grain de ble. Resume du 
Compte-rendu des travaux du laboratoire de Carlsberg. 2 me vol. 5me livr. 1888. 
3 Liidtke, Beitrage zur Kenntniss der Aleuronkorner, Pringsh. Jahrb. xxi. 1889. 
D d 
