abstracts: geology 129 



BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY— Symptoms shown by plants under 

 the influence of different toxic compounds. Oswald Schreiner. 

 Proceedings of the American Society of Biological Chemists, 2 : 

 7. 1911. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 9: XIII. 1911. 

 Observations made in connection with the effects of different organic 

 substances in modifying the growth of wheat seedlings has shown that 

 toxic substances have a specific effect on certain plant functions. For 

 instance, cumarin-affected plants have characteristic stunted tips and 

 broad, distorted leaves. Vanillin strongly inhibits root growth. Qui- 

 none causes a tall and slender growth, with thin, narrow leaves, in strong 

 contrast to the cumarin-affected plants. These various effects of toxic 

 compounds are overcome by entirely different fertilizer combinations, the 

 cumarin effect by phosphates, the vanillin effect by nitrates, the quinone 

 effects by potassium salts. The absorption of salts while the plants are 

 under the influence of these toxic compounds is likewise different, thus 

 showing that the effect of the poisons is deep-seated, influencing the 

 entire metabolism of the plants. The changes brought about by etheri- 

 zation and the influence of certain gases in causing the so-called sleep- 

 ing of carnations and other flowers belong to this class of phenomena. 

 Previous work with plants and toxic compounds has usually been 

 made without the recognition that plants are affected in a markedly 

 different manner by different poisons. The plant, however, like the 

 animal, shows characteristic symptoms of specific poisons and there is 

 a pharmacology of plants as well as of animals. 



That organic substances can cause changes in plant characteristics 

 leads to the suggestion that harmful organic substances in the soil or 

 in the plant may be the cause of some now little understood plant dis- 

 eases. M. X. Sullivan. 



GEOLOGY. — The movement of soil material by wind. E. E. Free. 



With a Bibliography of eolian geology. S. C. Stuntz and E. E. 



Free. Bulletin Bureau of Soils, No. 68. Pp. 272. 1911. 

 This bulletin reviews the geologic actions of the wind with especial 

 reference to its share in the moving of soil materials and in the making 

 and mixing of soils. The phenomena of sand dunes, dust storms, eolian 

 deposits (loess, etc.), blown volcanic dust, etc., are summarized and 

 excessive soil blowing is briefly discussed. The main conclusion is that 

 the w ind is of considerable importance as an agent of soil formation and 

 change, in humid as well as in arid regions. The literature of eolian 

 geology is critically summarized and the bibliography of over 2000 

 titles is believed to be fairly complete. S. C. S. and E. E. F. 



