BY .lAMKb jM. I'KTKIE. 133 



As to the function of the pods in the Leguminosae, there 

 is some evidence that they act as stores for reserve-material. 

 Schulze and Winterstein* have shown that, during the ripen- 

 ing of risum sativum, protein-decomposition takes place in 

 the pods, and the soluble material is transported to the seeds, 

 as the latter ripen, till, in the end, only 30% of the original 

 protein- and 8% of the original nonprotein-nitrogen are left. 



Not only does this transference take place while the pods 

 are growing on the plant, but also after their removal from 

 the stem they continue to supply material for the formation 

 of protein to the enclosed seeds. The results of an experi- 

 ment to prove this point are given below. 



B. Experiments with V i c i a f ah a. 



Broad beans, V ic'ui faba, were grown in an experimental 

 plot. The pods were collected at about the middle period of 

 their growth, and examined, with the object of determining 

 whether any change in the distribution of the nitrogen in 

 their seeds took place, when these were left for a definite 

 time, enclosed in the isolated pods. 



Three stages were arranged as follows : — 



Stage 1. Beans collected, and immediately examined for 

 protein- and nonprotein-nitrogen : 100 beans weighed 

 22-6 gms. 



Stage 2. Beans left two days in the pods, then examined: 

 100 beans weighed 65-7 gms. 



Stage 3. Beans left five days in the pods, then examined: 

 100 beans weighed 63-5 gms. 



The unopened pods wei-e left in a moist atmosphere, under 

 a bell-jar, for a given time : the seeds were then removed 

 from the pods, and, with their skins on and in the moist 

 condition, the weight of one hundred was ascertained. The 

 methods of extraction and nitrogen-estimation were the same 

 as those given in A. 



* Zeit. I'hysiol. Cliim. 65, 1910, s.43l. 



