376 Phvsiolo2:ie. 



&•■ 



beech-maple and the black oak dune association, as previously placed 

 by succession studies, is verified. While the soil-moisture data are 

 not extensive or exhaustive enough for positive conclusions, 3^et they 

 indicate that the water-holding capacity and wilting coefiicients are 

 largel}^ determined by the amount of humus in the soil. 



M. C. Merrill (St. Louis). 



Mathews, A. P., Adaptation from the point ofviewofthe 

 physiologist. (Am. Nat. XLVII p. 90—104. 1913.) 



The author holds that adaptation is to be explained only on 

 the basis of the natural selection of small variations, and that 

 eyolution has taken place only as a slow and gradual process. The 

 uniform progress toward consciousness and intelligence has been 

 due to the natural selection of the property of irratibility, and this 

 property always tends to increase the measure of the adaptability 

 of an organism. L. O. Overholts (St. Louis). 



Peklo, J., Ueber die Ursachen der Panaschierung- 

 (Vestm'k V. sjez. ces. pn'r. p. 391, 1915. Böhmisch.) 



Als Resultat seiner Beobachtungen resümiert Verf., dass das 

 Agens auch von nichtinfektiöser Panaschierung parasitärer Be- 

 schaffenheit ist und den chemischen (enzymatischen) Einflüssen 

 höchstens, wenn überhaupt, eine weit unterordnete Stelle in der 

 Aetiologie eingereiht werden muss. Jar. Stuchlik. 



Reed, H. S., The enzyme activities involved in certain 

 fruit diseases. (Va. Agr. Exp. Sta. Rept. p. 51—77. 1911 — 12.) 



This paper is an account of certain enzymes produced by 

 Glomerella rufomaculans and of the action of these ferments upon 

 certain products of the host. A study was made of both the enzymes 

 of decayed fruits and enzymes of the mycelium in culture. The 

 ferments isolated were amylase, invertase, cytase, inulase, an 

 emulsin (acting upon arbutin, amygdalin and salicin), lipolytic 

 enzymes, protease, erepsin, amidase, and an enzyme Splitting 

 hippuric acid into glycocoll and benzoic acid. The carboh3''drate 

 enzymes seemed to show a regulatory formation. The growth of 

 the fungus produces an alkaline condition of the substratum. 



Duggar (St. Louis). 



Reed, H. S. and J. S. Cooley. The eff ect of the cedar rot 

 upon the assimilation ofcarbon dioxide by apple lea- 

 ves. (Va. Agr. Exp. Sta. Rep. p. 91-94. 1911/12.) 



The results of this study indicate that the rate of photosynthesis 

 is reduced in the diseased leaves to about one-half of that in normal 

 leaves. The causes of Inhibition are believed to be the same as 

 those leading to the Inhibition of transpiration. The experimental 

 work was carried out by means of Ganong's photosynthometer. 



Duggar (St. Louis). 



Sajfept, S., Ueber den Einfluss von Mangan auf das 

 Wachstum der Kartoffeln und auf die Zusammenset- 

 zung ihrer Asche. (Vestnik V. sjez. ces. pn'r. p. 411. 1915. 

 Böhmisch.) 



Das Mangan vermehrt beträchtlich die Kartoffelernte. Der Star- 



I 



