270 Physiologie. — Algae. 



show that on a purely physical basis the soils do not contain 

 enough soluble salts to account for the mineral matter found 

 in the crop, hence some must be derived from insoluble sub- 

 stances. „In short the conclusions are entirely at variance with 

 the tables." H. M. Richards (New York). 



VlNES, S. H., Presidential address to the Linnean 

 Society. (Proc. Linn. Soc. London 1903. Pharm Journal. 

 1903. p. 777.) 



In addition to the previously recorded cases of proteases 

 in plants, the author finds them to occur in the Melon, 

 Grape, Orange — peel and the Banana; in the foliage- 

 leaves of the Dahlia, Lettuce, Cabbage, Spinach and others; in 

 the bulbs of Tulip and Hyacinth; the tubers of Potato and Jeru- 

 salem artichoke; in tuberous roots of Beet, Dahlia and Turnip; 

 in Yeast and in the mushroom. Indeed the opinion is expressed 

 ihat the presence of a protease in the various parts of a plant 

 body is the rule rather than the exception. 



While in certain plants (Pineapple, Papaw, Nepenthes, Yeast, 

 etc.) the proteases closely resemble trypsin in there action, in 

 the majority of cases they differ from trypsin in that they cannot 

 peptonize fibrin, though they can proteolyse albumoses and 

 peptones, thus closely resembling erepsin. The old idea that 

 pepsin can only peptonise, while trypsin can also proteolyse is 

 considered too arbitrary for it would appear that pepsin can 

 effect proteolysis, though much less actively than trypsin. If 

 this be established a series will be found in which trypsin, 

 active in peptonization and proteolysis will occupy a central 

 position; on the one hand will be pepsin actively peptonizing 

 and but slightly proteolytic ; and on the other erepsin, actively 

 proteolytic, and but slightly peptonizing. 



E. Drabble (London). 



WATTERSON, A., The Effect of Chemical Irritation on 

 the Respiration of Fungi. (Bull. Torrey Bot. Club. 

 Vol. XXXI. p. 291—303.) 



The increased weight following the Stimulation of Sterlg- 

 matocystis and Penicillium with small quantities of Zn SOj, 

 FeSO.i, and Li Cb, is not accompanied by an increase in CO2 

 production above that required by the increase of dry sub- 

 stance. Hence the ratio of COa and dry weight is approxi- 

 mately equal to that found in the normal. 



H. M. Richards (New York). 



COZETTE, M. P., Catalogue des algues terrestres et 



d'eau douce du Nord de Ia France. (C. R. du Con- 



gres des Socie'tes savantes, Bordeaux. 1903. p. 254 — 328.) 



Single liste avec indication de localites d'algues terrestres et d'eau 

 douce en comprenant 626 especes appartenant aux Cyanophyce'es, Chloro- 

 phycdes, Phdophycees et Floriile'es. C'est le premier travail d'ensemble 



