158 Angewandte Botanik. 



»^ 



bei Coffea, Hunger he'\ Theobroma cacao, Webber bei QYr?/5 Arten, 

 Leake bei Gossypium, Howard bei Hibiscus cannabiniis et Sab- 

 dariffa, Crotalaria juncea, Corchorus capsnlarius et eliotorius und 

 Sesaniiim indicmn ; E. de Wildeman bei Batatas edulis, Elaeis 

 guinensis, Trabut bei Olea europaea. Fruwirth. 



Harvey-Gibson, R. J., Note on the Synonomy and Histo- 

 logical Char acters ot" East London Boxwood. {Gonioma 

 kamassi E. Mey). (Biochem. Journ. VI. p. 127—129. 1^11.) 



"Easi London Boxwood" used in the manutacture of Shuttles 

 is known to produce so-called "cardiac asthma" among the workmen 

 employed. With Titherley and Sowton the author had previoush' 

 (1905) shown this effect to. result from the presence in the wood 

 of certain alkaloids. The identit}' of the timber is established in the 

 present paper. East London Boxwood of commerce is derived 

 from two South African trees. Gonioma kamassi E. Mey and Bhx2<s 

 Macowani Oliver. Histologicarexamination of authenticated specimens 

 showed that it is the timber of G. kamassi which possesses toxic 

 properties. S. E. Chandler. 



Holland, J. H., Alcohoi. (Kew Bull. Mise. Inform. N^ 3. p. 113— 120. 



N" 4. p. 207- 208. 1912.) 



The author reviews the vegetable resources of methyl and 

 ethyl alcohols under the headings of 1) Fruits; 2) Roots, Tuberous 

 Roots and Root-stocks; 3) Grain ; 4) Stems; 5) Leaves; 6) Inflores- 

 cences; 7; Wood and Woody substances; 8) Peat. A bibliography 

 is appended. S. E. Chandler. 



Holmes, J. S., Forest Conditions in Western North Caio- 

 lina. (Bull. XXIII. N. C. Geol. Econ. Survey. 1911.) 



The 111 pages of this bulletin are devoted mainh' to forestry, 

 but much of ecologic interest is presented in the descriptions of the 

 region, the forest, the types of forest, forest distribution by species, 

 forest conditions by counlies, utilization of forest products, etc. An 

 excellent colored map accompanies the report. Harshberger. 



Kearney, Th. H. and H. L- Shantz. The waier economy of 

 drv-land Crops. (Yearbook of the U. S. Dept. Agric. p. 351— 362. 

 19ri.) 



The authors after discussing water as a factor in plant growth, 

 absorption, transpiration, water requirement, adaptations for enduring 

 drought, adaptations for evading drought, adaptations for escaping 

 drought conclude their study as follows: Plant introduction and 

 plant breeding in connection with dry-jand agriculture should lie 

 guided by the nature of the adaptations to drought possessed by 

 the crop in question. The following points should be considered : 

 1) Season of growth and length of the growing period. 2) Ability 

 te endure drought by becoming more or less dormant. 3) Character 

 of the rooi System. 4) Adaptations for Controlling transpiration. 

 5) Smallness of the water requirement as determining efficiency in 

 crop production. Harshberger. 



