[N. S. VOL. XVI. No. 395.

Second Report on Recent Progress in theTheory of Groups of Finite Order: Pro-fessor G. A. MILLER, Stanford Univer-sity.In the absence of Professor Miller this

report was presented in abstract by Dr. W.B. Fite, of Cornell University. It will bepublished in the Bulletin of the AmericantMathematical Society.

Displacements Polygons: Professor J.BURKITT WEBB, Stevens InstituLte ofTechnology.Owing to the absence of Professor Webb

at the time this paper was called for it wasread by title.

Some Theorents on Ordinary ConItin tedFractions: Professor THOMAS E. McKIN-NEY, Marietta College.Let D be any positive integer not a per-

fect square, and let its sqnare root be repre-sented by an ordinary continued frac-tion. This paper determines the form of Dso that the continued fraction representingits square root may have a period with one,two, three or fonr elements, and appliesthe results to the determination of the nLum-ber of reduced forms i-n the class to whichthe indefinite qnLadratic form (1, 0, D)belongs.

On the Forms of Sextic Scrolls of GenusOne: Dr. VIRGIL SNYDER, Cornell Univer-sity.In his classification of sextic scrolls of

genus 1, Dr. Snyder employed the methodof point correspondence between two planesections and mace use of the followingtheorems which were proved in one of hisformer papers: (1) The nodal currve (sim-ple or composite) is of order 9; (2) everygenerator cuts four others, and (3) anynon-reducible plane curve lying on the sur-face is of genus 1.

Thirty-three types are found, ten ofwhich have a muLltiple conic. It will be

published in the American Journal ofMathematics.

Transformatton of the lypergeometricSeries: Professor EDGAR FRISBY, U. S.Naval Observatory.If in the differential equation of the

second order connecting.the eleinents of thehypergeometric series

P_ + 4Px _t a (a2(+ )( 1) xe + etc.P 7 1.2.y.(y±1) x+ec

x'1P' be substituted for P, new relationisare obtained in which P' takes the place ofP, and the new elements are functions ofthe original elemnents. p is determinedfroin the condition that the new seriesmuist be of the same general forni as theold. If, in addition, x be replaced by 1/xanother series is obtained. From these twonew series, by proper substitution of theinew derived elements, are obtained almostby inspection, the twenty different seriesordinarily given in works on differentialequations.

EDWIN S. CRAWILEY,Secretary.

SSECTION G, BOTANY.

SECTION G of the American Associationmet in the Botanical Hall of Phipps Con-servatory on the mornings of June 30 andJuly 3, 1902. In the absence of ProfessorD. H. Campbell, Stanford University, Pro-fessor C. E. Bessey, of the Universitv ofNebraska, was elected acting Vice-Presi-dent.The abstracts of papers presented are as

follows:

The Prevalence of Alternaria in Nebraskaand Colorado Datring the Drouaght of1901: GEORGE GRANT HEDGCOCK, Lincoln,Nebr.This paper gives a brief synopsis of

observations nmade in various sections ofNebraska and Colorado during the severeperiod of drought in July and August of

136 SCIENCE.

on May 12, 2021

http://science.sciencem

ag.org/D

ownloaded from

SCIENCE.

the year 1901. The conditions which ex-isted retarded the development of suchfungi as Cer-cospora and Phytllosticta, butfavored the growth of Alternaria upon theblighted leaves of a number of plants, es-pecially those of the sugar beet, potato,pumipkin, cantaloupe and plantain.Effect of Acetylene Gas-light on Plant

Growth, Plant Environment and PlantDiseases: FRANK WILLIAM RANE, NewHampshire College, Durham, N. H.The effect of acetylene gas-light has a

marked effect upon plant growth, especial-ly under glass, during the winter nmonths.Experimnents show more effect upon cer-tain plants than others. Illustrated byphotographs of plants.Plant Environment and Plant Diseases: F.W. RANE.Healthy plants seem to evince the law of

self preservation to more or less an extent.Just how far certain well-known plant dis-eases are brought about through a mis-understanding of ideal environment isthought to be a problem with possible grad-ual solution. Plant depredations it is be-lieved are not naturally associated withplants where the environnient or culture ismost favorable. Plant diseases and plantculture are closely associated. Examplesare offered.Soil Tenperatares and Vegetation: D. T.MAcDouGAL, N. Y. Botanical Gardeni.A description of a method of making ob-

servations on soil temperatures by miieans ofthe newly designed Hallock thermograph.The influence of the divergent tempera-tuLres of the soil and air is touched upon.Conditianzs Inf/I encing the Vitality and

Germination of Seeds: J. W. T. DUVEL.The above article treats of the vitality

of seeds as affected by various climatic con-ditions, especially the deleterious influencesef warm, moist climates such as we have inthe Gulf States. The condition and meth-

137

ods for keeping seeds in such unfavorableclimates are discussed at some length, show-ing that the first requisite for prolongedvitalitv of seeds is a reduction in theamount of hygroscopic moisture present,thereby diminishing the respiratory activ-ity and consequently a prolongation of thelife of the seeds.

Some Neglected Factors in Discussions ofHeredity: GEORGE J. PEIRCE.Certain influences to which organisms

are exposed are constant in operation andintensity; there is no escape from these in-fluences; they have never been elim-ninated inexperiments, and their i?portance can onlybe guessed. Anmong these influences arethe atm-nosphere, the earth as a whole, water,gravity, which have been uniform in phys-ical and chemical properties for millions ofgenerations, if not always. The reaction ofthe living organism to these influencesshould be considered in all discussions ofheredity.

Sclerotinia Fructtigena: J. B. S. NORTON,College Park, Md.Studied by Woronin, Smith, and many

others; conidial stage (monilia) destruct-ive fruit disease; apothecia not previouslydiscovered. Found abundant on buriedpeach and plunm fruits two years old inmany Maryland orchards; the disk appearsjuLst above ground. Description of apothe-cia, asci, spores, etc. Connected with mon-ilia by many laboratory cultures on flowers,fruit, and various cuLlture media. Cycle ofdevelopument completed in a few days.Spores germinate in ten hours. Economicimportance; fruits should be burned orotherwise destroyed.

A Bacterial Soft Rot of Certain Crucifer-ous Plants antd Amno-nphophallts Sin-ense; A Preliminary Report: By H. A.HARDING and F. C. STEWART, N. Y. Ag-ric. Exp. Sta., Geneva, N. Y.

JULY 25, 1902. ]

on May 12, 2021

http://science.sciencem

ag.org/D

ownloaded from

[N. S. VOL. XVI. No. 395.

The Finding of Puccinia phragmiitis(Schun.) Korn. in Nebraska: JOHN M.BATES, Callaway, Nebraska.June 14, 1901, the writer found the ci-

dal stage on garden rhubarb, in Kearney;August 23 the next two stages were foundon Phragmnitis at Callaway, sixty-fivemiles northwest. This year he has foundthe aecidal stage on Rumex Britannica, R.attissimus and B. crispus, and on rhubarbin four gardens, thus completing the lifehistory. It is thought to be new to thiscontinent.

Notes on Diseases of TW7estern Coniferm:HERMANN VON SCHRENK, AMo. BotanicalGarden, St. Louis, Mo.The coniferous trees of California, Ore-

gon, Washington, Idaho and adjoiningStates are attacked by a number of fungusdiseases, some of which destroy as high asforty per cent. of the standing timber.The most important diseases are causedby formns of Trametes pini, PotyporusSehweinitzii, Polyporms Libocedris, n. sp.,Echinodonti?m tinctoruim, Potypouts of-ficinalis. The development of these fungiand the manner and extent to which theydestroy the wood were described. Refer-ence was made to the blue disease of BlackHills timber.

A Disease of Potato Stems in Ohio, Dueto Rhizoctonia: AUGIJSTINE D. SELBY,Wooster, 0.The work of Duggar and Stewart in New

York upon diseases caused by the sterilefungus Rhizoctonia and the recent prelim-inary publication by Rolfs upon potato fail-ures in Colorado due to the same source, isalready known to workers in plant pa-thology.For more than a year past work has been

in progress at the Ohio Experiment Stationupon the Rhizoctonia on potatoes. Dur-ing the present June outbreaks of a well-marked stem disease in Ohio, duLe to this

source have oceurred at several points inOhio. Local areas of decay are situatedboth above and below the soil line; the moststriking feature, however, is the character-istic rosette aspects of the central leavesof the plants attacked. By slight ineurl-ing of the leaves the affected plants niaybe readily discerned in walking throughthe field; apparently this characteristic isconstant on a number of varieties. Tenper cent. or more of the plants have beenfouLnd affected; doubtless larger percent-ages may occur.

Arachniotus trachyspernnus, A new Speciesof the Gymnoascacece.: C. L. SHEAR, De-partment of Agriculture, Washington,D. C.Arachniotts is a genus of primitive as-

comyeete, described by Schroeter in 1893.Four species have thus far been described.The present species, which appears to benew, is the first thus far reported in thiscountry so far as known to the author. Itwas isolated from diseased cranberriesgrown in New Jersey and grown in abun-dance in culture media. The fungus firstforms a thin layer of fine snow-white hy-phe. Aature peridia are produced infrom two to three weeks. These are globu-lar, about I mm. in diameter, consisting ofa thin, loose layer of fine hypha which en-close a dense mass of spherical or subglo-bose asei borne at the apices of the muchbranched and interwoven fertile hyphie.Asci are eight-spored. Spores almost color-less but in mass showing a faint greenish-yellow tint, rough, elliptical, 3.5 x 2.5,.An Instance of a Change in the Native

Flora: CHAS. E. BESSEY, Lincoln, Nebr.In Nebraska the little grass Festuca

octoflora, has been comnmon throughout theState ever since botanizing has been done,buit it has never been a conspicuous plant.This year inquiries have been sent in to theIUniversity and Experiment Station fron

1-38 SCIENCE.

on May 12, 2021

http://science.sciencem

ag.org/D

ownloaded from

SCIENCE.

nearly all parts of the State, accompaniedby the remark that the grass had appearedfor the first time. There is no question asto the much greater abundance of this grassthe present year. It is of considerablylarger size, also, than usual. The sugges-tion is made that the intense heat anddrought of last year had to do with thegreater abundance of this species of thepresent year.

In connection with this case attention iscalled to the fact that twenty-five years agoafter the 'grasshopper raids' the farmersnoticed the great abundance of Sporobolusvagincelo/oruJs, which they called the 'grass-hopper grass,' and supposed that it hadbeen brought by the grasshoppers.

Note on the Fuel Value of Cottonwood:CHAS. E. BESSEY, Lincoln, Nebr.On the plains where the cottonwood

(Populus deltoidea) is very commonlyplanted, there is much prejudice against itas a tree having any other value than forshade and windbreak. It is regarded ashaving low fuel value. Some carefulmeasurements and calculations made bythe writer show that on account of itsrapid growth it produces more heat-yield-ing fuel in a given time than tlle trees withwhich it is usually planted. On a givenarea in a given time more heat units maybe produced than hy the use of any otherof the commonly planted trees.

Features of the Flora of Cuba: CEAS.Louis POLLARD, 1854 Fifth Street, Wash-ington, D. C. (Illustrated with lan-tern.)A general accolunt of the Cuban flora

with special reference to the ecologicalaspects. The various plant zones and plantformations of the island are described, andthe characteristic flora of each discutssed.The plants of economic or ornamnentalvaluLe are also briefly discussed.

139

The Origin of the Achromatic Figure inPellta: CHARLES J. CHAMBERLAIN, De-partment of Botany, University ofChicago.This investigation deals chiefly with the

first two nuclear divisions in the germinat--ing spore. For comparison, however,mitosis was studied in other phases of thelife history. The principal conclusions areas follows: The stimulus. to nuclear divis-ion comes from within the nucleus. Theasters are cytoplasmic in origin. The capscome from the outer portion of the nuclearmembrane or from a Hautschicht surround-ing the nucleus. The appearance and dis-appearance of astral rays suggest thatthey are concerned in the movement ofnuclear matter. The centrosphere isformed by the astral rays, not the astralrays by the centrosphere. This centro-sphere represents a condition intermediatebetween the well-defined centrosphere ofone of the thallophytes, and the centro-someless condition of the higher plants.The spindle fibers, except the mantle fibers,grow from one pole to the other. In earlystages two half spindles are often distin-guishable.

Comparison of the Development of theEmbryo Sac and Embryo of ClaytoniaVTirgisnica and Agrostemma Githago:MEL T. CooK, Greencastle, Indiana.Claytonia Virginica has one arche-

sporium; it forms one, occasionally two, ta-petal cells, four megaspore cells, of whichthe lower develops into the sac in the usualmanner. Very little enlargement of the sacis evident until the four-celled stage isreached, but after that time it enlargesrapidly and bends to form almost a com-plete circle. The antipodals disappearearly; the synergids persist until the em-bryo is quite large. In the formation ofthe embryo the cell division is very irregu-lar; the basal cell of the suspensor is small;

JULY 25, 1902.]

on May 12, 2021

http://science.sciencem

ag.org/D

ownloaded from

[N. S. VoL. XVI. No. 395.

only one cotyledon develops. The en-dosperm is peripheral.

In Agrostemrna Githago we find froiai oneto three archesporial cells, one or two tapetalcells and only two megaspore cells, ofwhich the lower develops into the sac. Fre-quently two sacs begin to develop, but oneis always absorbed before the two-celledstage is reached. The sac begins to enlargeafter the four-celled stage, the principalenlargemient being froni the antipodal endand at right ancgles to the long axis of thesac. The antipodals persist for a shorttime, but the synergids disappear early.In the four-celled stage a zone of v ery thinwalled cells surrounds the sac anLd the ab-sorption of these cells is ani important fac-tor in the enlargement of the sac. A longbeak is formned from the mnicropylar end ofthe ovule. The formiation of the embryois regular aiid the basal cell of the filament-ous suspensor is very large. Both cotyle-dons develop. The endosperm is periph-eral.

Studies in Phycomntycete Feritilizationt:Sceerospora Grarntiicola (Sacc.): F. L.STEVENS, A. & M. College, W. Raleigh,N. C.The oosphere in Scierospora grnainicota

is uninucleate, clearly resembling the gen-eral type exhibited in the Peronosporeae.and in Albitgo canidida, buit differing fromathe more primiitive for-ms sueh as Atlb gobtiti and A. Tragopogonis. The antheri-ditmn bears several n-uclei, but one only en-ters the antheridial tube. Simultaneousmitosis occurs here as in the related forms,zonation is a prom-inent phase in oogenesisand the ecenocentruni is a conspicluousorgan in the oogonLium.

Not-es on Agrostis: A. S. HITCHCOCK, U. S.Dept. of Agriculture, Washington, D. C.Synonymy of species of the genus Ag-

-rostis occurring in North American His-

tory of several names. Notes on some ofthe early species described by Triu andothers.

T'he Absorption of Water; A Function ofthe Ligate and St-ipulaccouts Tissiue of theGrasses: F. L. STEWART, Merrysville, Pa.An accou:nt of observations and experi-

ments proving that, coordinate with certainstructural provisions for the conveyancefrom the leaf-blade of the grasses of dewand rainwater deposited thereon, the liguleand the connected tissues of the leaf-sheathactively absorb it and transmait it into thecirculatory systeni of the plant, thus sup-plemnenting the supply of water derivedfrom the root.

The Pith Cells of Phytolacca Decauidra:HENRY KRAEMER, Philadelphia, Pa.The pith of this plant is differentiated

into two parts, a peripheral portion m-ladeup of active cells, and a central inetamor-phosed portion consisting of biconcavediaphragms composed of both active andinactive cells separated at regulLar intervalsby cavities. The latter appear to be formedby the abstraction of water froni the cellsof this regioni, as a result of the develop-ment of other parts of the ste-in. This viewas to their origin seenms to be confirmed bythe fact that in the process of drying thatportion of the pith in the upper internodes,which is not already metainorphosed, be-com-es thus differentiated. The metamor-phosed pith in Phytolacca decaTdra seemson the one hand to have a certain resem-blance in origin to the hollow internodes ofthe stems of the Polygonaceam and on theother hand to resemble the heterogeneousor modified pith of the Magnoliace.

A leview and Criticismn of the BotanicalCurricultum of some of our Colleges andUniversities-fromn the Student's Stand-point: E. MEAD WILCOX, Auburn, Ala.

14() SCIENCE.

on May 12, 2021

http://science.sciencem

ag.org/D

ownloaded from

JULY 23, 1902. ]

Special Haaustoriat Apparat as in connec-tion> with thle Emnbryo Sac of Angios-permns: JOHN M. COULTER, University ofChicago.

A Note on the Vitality of the Spores of]Jarsilea.: MARSHALL A. HOWE, N. Y.Botanical Garden, Bronx Park, NewYork City.

The Ascent of the Transpir-ation Streaab:EDWIN BINGHAM COPELAND, StanfordUTniversity, California.

Chemincal Stimrnlation and the Evoluti;on ofCarbon Dioxide: EDWIN BINGIIAMCOPELAND, Stanford University, Cali-fornia.

HERMANN VON SCHRENK,Secretary.

ASSIGNMIENTS OF GEOLOGIC AND PALE-ONTOLOGIC PARTIES.

THE following assignments of geologicand paleontologic parties of the U. S. Geo-logical Survey have been imade for the pres-ent field season:

Dr. Geo. I. Adams will make an arealand economic survey of the Yellville quad-ranigle in Arkansas, with special referenceto the preparation of a report on theArkansas lead and zinc district. He willbe assisted by Professor A. HI. Purdue andMr. Ernest F. Burehard.

Dr. Geo. F. Becker will continue thesupervision of the Division of Physicaland Chemical Research and the prepara-tion of a report embodying his investiga-tion's on the conditions of gold depositionin the Mother Lode of California.Mr. J. M. Boutwell and Dr. J. D.

Irving will study the miniing geology of,the Park City district, Utah.

Dr. J. C. Branner will continue arealsurveys on the Santa Crttz qLuadrangle,California.

AMr. M. R. Campbell will continue thesupervision of areal and economic work

in New York, Pennsylvanlia, Ohio, Indiana,Kentucky, and West Virginia. He willbe assisted by Messrs. Charles BuLtts, LesterH. Woolsey, Ralph W. Stone and MarntsGoldman in Pennsylvania; by Mr. MyronL. Fuller in New York and Indiana, andby Professors Geo. H. Ashley and L. C.Glenn in Kentucky.

Professor T. C. Chamberlin will con-tinue the supervision of investigations inPleistocene geology of the United States.I-le will be assisted by Professor R. D.Salisburv and Mr. W. W. Atwood in theRtocky Mountain region; by Frank Lever-ett anid F. AW. Taylor in Michigan, and byW. C. Alden in Wisconsin.

Professor W. B. Clark, with assistants,will contiinue the investigations of the geol-ogy of the Coastal Plain region in Mary-land and Delaware, and of the Piedmonitplateau of 1AIaryland in cooperation withthe Geological Survey of Marylanid.

Dr. Whitman Cross will suspend hisregular field work in Colorado for the pres-eut season an-d spend a portion of the yearin the 1lawaiian Islands for the purposeof investigating volcanic phenoniena.

Professor T. Nelson Dale will continuehiis surveys in western Vermont and willsurvey the Slatington quadrangle in east-ern Pennsylvania. Hie will be assisted byProfessor Frederick B. Peek and Mr. FredH. Moffit.

Dr. William H--. Dall will continue hisstudies for the completion of the revisionof the Tertiary faunas of Florida,

MA1r. N. HI. Darton will continue arealsuirveys in the Black Hills and the BigT-horn Mountains, and will complete areconnaissance of the Great Plains for thepreparation of a map showing the geologyanid water resources of that region. liewill be assisted by Mr. C. A. Fisher.Mr. J. S. Diller will complete the areal

and economuie survey of the Redding quad-

SCIENCE. 141

on May 12, 2021

http://science.sciencem

ag.org/D

ownloaded from

SECTION G, BOTANYHERMANN VON SCHRENK

DOI: 10.1126/science.16.395.136 (395), 136-141.16Science 

ARTICLE TOOLS http://science.sciencemag.org/content/16/395/136.citation

PERMISSIONS http://www.sciencemag.org/help/reprints-and-permissions

Terms of ServiceUse of this article is subject to the

registered trademark of AAAS. is aScienceAdvancement of Science, 1200 New York Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20005. The title

(print ISSN 0036-8075; online ISSN 1095-9203) is published by the American Association for theScience

Advancement of Science. No claim to original U.S. Government Works.Copyright © 1902 The Authors, some rights reserved; exclusive licensee American Association for the

on May 12, 2021

http://science.sciencem

ag.org/D

ownloaded from