840 
MR. W. GARDINER ON THE CONTINUITY OF THE 
give one the idea that he has not been fully able to satisfy himself as to the structure 
by direct successful observation. 
I then resolved to repeat for myself Tangl’s experiments, and also to investigate in 
as thorough a manner as possible the endosperm tissue of other species of Palms, and 
of other seeds of a similar nature. This work was carried on in the Jodrell 
Laboratory of the Royal Gardens, Kew, during the first three months of the present 
year. 
Of the Order Palmte I have examined the seeds of typical representatives of a great 
number of the genera, and I have, in addition, investigated the structure of the endo¬ 
sperm of members of the following Orders, viz.: Leguminosae, Rubiaceas, Myrsinese, 
Comacese, Loganiaceae, Hydropliyllaceae, Iridaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Dioscoriaceae, 
Melanthaceae, Liliaceae, Smilaceae, and Phytelephasieas. 
A mere glance at the foregoing list will be sufficient to show that a very large 
number of seeds were required, although from the great resources of the Royal 
Gardens I found no difficulty in obtaining typical representatives of any of the genera, 
and I cannot speak too highly of the great kindness I received on every side, from the 
Kew authorities, both in rendering me every assistance, and enabling me to obtain 
whatever material I was in need of for my investigation. Especially do I owe a debt 
of gratitude to W. T. Thiselton Dyer, Esq., the Assistant Director, not only for the 
help I always received from him, but also for the kindly interest he took in my work 
all along. 
Of the methods I employed I have already spoken in the earlier part of this paper. 
The usual plan I adopted was to cut with a razor, wetted with water, thin sections of 
the seeds, which were then stained with iodine and mounted in Chlor. Zinc Iod. 
Usually they could be examined at this stage; the exceptions being in those cases 
where the pit membrane rapidly assumed the blue cellulose coloration. After the 
prolonged action of Chlor. Zinc Iod. they were washed in water stained with picric- 
HoFMANN’s-blue, and after a second washing in water were mounted permanently in 
glycerine (strong or dilute) or glycerine jelly. 
In certain cases some slight modification of this process had to be resorted to, which 
was occasioned by the peculiar characteristics of the tissues in question. Thus, for 
example, in such endosperms as Stryclmos or Tamus, where great swelling takes place 
upon treatment with water, the sections were cut in alcohol, stained with alcoholic 
iodine, and after treatment with Chlor. Zinc Iod. were washed with dilute alcohol; 
stained, and mounted in strong glycerine after having been well stirred in glycerine, 
on taking out of the staining fluid, instead of washing with water, although usually 
quick washing with water will succeed equally well. Again, where the pit membrane 
was thin, and taking up water soon became coloured blue with Chlor. Zinc, Iod., and 
would only for a short time retain its primary yellow coloration : such tissue was also 
stained with dilute alcoholic iodine. 
The strength of the iodine must be altered as the nature of the material requires, 
