364 Floristik etc. — Pflanzenchemie. 



nection between tree growth and rainfall; he has established a 

 curve of tree growth for one locality, and he has observed apparent 

 climatic C3''cles and indications of association between meteorologic 

 and astronoraic phenomena, Harshberger. 



Happer, R. M., Car-window notes on the Vegetation of 

 the Upper peninsula of Michigan. (15th. Rept. Mich. Acad. 

 Offic. p. 193—198. 1913.) 



As the title indicates, the aathor notes the most distinctive 

 features of the Vegetation in Upper peninsular Michigan. He gives 

 the numerical frequency of the different species noted under the 

 heads of trees, shrubs and herbs. The absence and scarcity of 

 certain plants are commented upon. Harshberger. 



Harper, R. M., The "pocosin" ofPike Count)', Alabama, 

 and its bearing on certain problems of succession. 

 (Bull. Torr. Bot. Club. XLI. p. 209—220. fig. 1—4. May 1914.) 



The several uses of the term pocosin in the southern states 

 are discussed. Pocosin in eastern North Carolina, where the term 

 is used more frequently than in all the rest of the world, means a 

 flat wet place with peaty soil, usually remote from large streams, 

 with a scattered growth of trees and a dense shrubby undergrowth. 

 A so-called pocosin in Pike County Alabama was visited and its 

 Vegetation intimately studied. The plants are listed under trees, 

 shrubs and vines, herbs, epiphytes, etc. The author concludes, that 

 the Alabama pocosin is a many-storied climax forest of a type 

 characteristic of dry sandy soils in thecoastal piain of the south, that 

 something like half of the woody plants are evergreen and that it 

 may be more or less of an accident that the name pocosin was 

 applied to this place by the early settlers instead of hammock, 

 because the soil of this area as in other hammocks is richer in 

 humus, than that of the surrounding sand hills. Harshberger. 



Hüll, E. D., Occurrence of the Indian pipe {Monotropa uni- 

 flora) in a xerophytic habitat. (Torreya. XIV. p. 101 — 105. 

 June 1914.) 



Details the finding of this plant on the oak dunes with a 

 distinctly xerophyte flora including the black oak, Qiterctis velutina. 

 The plants of the undergrowth are given. The late blooming, of the 

 plant on Sept. 15th is noted, and the reasons for its occurrence on 

 the dunes are considered. Harshberger. 



Falk, K. G. and J. M. Nelson. Studies on enzyme action. 

 II. The hydrolytic action ofsome amino acids and Po- 

 lypeptids on certain esters. (Journ. Am. Chem. Soc. XXXI V. 

 p. S28— 845. 1912.) 



Methylacetate, ethyl but3'rate, and olive oil suspended or dis- 

 solved in water were digested at 38^ C. with various amino acids 

 and dipcplids. GlycocoU and alanin showed the greatest action on 

 ethyl butyrate but least on methyl acetate. The different acids and 

 dipeptids acted very differently on the three hydrolytes. This selec- 

 tive action is thought to be suggestive of the selective action of 

 lipases from different sources on different esters. 



