102 
Tl G. Mill. 
In connection with this part of the report it may be mentioned 
that at the invitation of the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion 
and Land Reclamation, evidence largely based on the Erquy work 
was given last spring by Professor Oliver on the part played by the 
halophytes as sand and mud binders, whilst Dr. Stapf gave infor¬ 
mation arising out of his observations on the Spartinas in the 
South Hampshire area. 
Other Observations. 
During a visit in November, 1907, the seeds of typical apple- 
green and crimson examples of Salicornia herbacea were harvested 
from numerous localities on the marsh. The following April these 
were sown on small denuded areas, ranged together so that the 
crops could be readily compared. The conditions thus obtained 
were not identical in detail with thosb ruling in the several parent- 
localities, but approximate uniformity of growth-conditions was 
secured in a halophytic environment. 
When examined in September, 1908, the results on the whole 
were found to be meagre, as only a small proportion of the seeds 
sown were represented by the standing crops. Of the twelve 
original batches sown (six green and six red), three of each sort were 
represented in sufficient numbers for a conclusion to be drawn. 
Stated quite broadly the result, which has been confirmed by 
various other observations, was that the parental colour was 
transmitted, i.e., seed from crimson parents produced crimson or 
reddish offspring, that from green parents green offspring. On the 
whole the red offspring gave a somewhat more decisive result than 
the green, as the former were more numerously represented. 
These and other experiments point to the conclusion that the 
colouration of these plants is a more complex phenomenon than is 
sometimes supposed. The problem is one that should be attacked 
on the large scale by extensive sowings under controlled conditions 
including, if possible, controlled pollination. 
These and previous experiments involving the sowing of seeds 
on the marsh show that the technical difficulties involved are 
considerable and that they can only be overcome by taking special 
precautions in connection with the following points. Under natural 
conditions the seed of the annual Salicornias and Susedas drops 
from the parent plant in November and germinates in the early 
spring. The process of germination is evidently promoted by the 
rich surface-growths of the alga Rhizoclonium which spread over 
them and act as a wet mulch. Whilst the surface algae exert a 
