Bacteriolosie. — Lichenes. 419 



'& 



of this organism. A trace of nitrogen in the medium facilitates 

 nitrogen fixation, but large quantities inhibit the process 



Duggar (St Louis). 



Gainey, P. L., Real and apparent nitrifying powers. 

 (Science N. S. XXXIX. p. 35-37. 1914.) 



In determining the nitrifying inoculating power of soils after 

 the addition of cotton seed meal, large amounts of nitrate were lost 

 and in some cases it disappeared entirely. If ammonium sulphate 

 were substituted for cotton seed meal as the source of nitrogen, 

 such a condition was never observed. W. H. Emig (St. Louis). 



Kellerman. K. F. and L. T. Leonard. The prevalence of 

 Bacillus radicicola in soil. (Science N. S. XXXVIII. p. 95— 98. 1913.) 



The indications are that Bacillus radicicola grows but sparingly 

 and shows no special characteristics upon synthetic agar made in 

 accordance with the formula reported by Grieg- Smith. 



W. H. Emig (St. Louis). 



Peck, S. S., The influence of molasses on nitrification 

 in cave soils. (Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Assoc. Exp. Stat. Bul. 

 XXXIX. p. 1-25. Charts 1—8. 1912. (Agr. and Chem. Series).) 



In a previous bulletin (No. 34) experiments were conducted on 

 a small scale regarding this subject. The experiments reported in 

 this bulletin were performed on a larger scale (in lysimeters) and 

 the results, while substantiating the previous ones, are more com- 

 parable to what might be expected under actual field conditions. 

 Applications were made to the soil of various nitrogenous fertilizers 

 and of molasses and molasses ash. The molasses applied was found 

 to exert an injurious action in the soil upon the nitrogenous ferti- 

 lizers causing the nitrate to revert to Icss available forms of nitrogen, 

 checking nitrification of (NH4)2 SO^, and retarding the ammonifica- 

 tion and nitrification of the nitrogen contained in organic fertilizers. 

 This effect was due, not to the ash of the molasses, but to the 

 organic constituents of which the sugars are believed to be the most 

 efficacious. Calcium carbonate does not prevent this action of molasses 

 and where beneficial results have been obtained by other workers 

 it is thought the same are due to favorable influence on the azoto- 

 bacter and not to soil changes induced by fermentation of the 

 molasses. M. C. Merrill (St. Louis). 



Sewell, M. C, Soil bacteria. (Ohio Nat. XIV. p. 273-278. 1914.) 



A brief summary of our knowledge of the important groups ot 

 bacteria in the soil, and their action in relation to the nitrogen, 

 sulphur, etc. there present. L. O. Overholts (St. Louis). 



Toblep, F., Verrucaster lichenicola nov. gen., nov. spec. (Abhandl. 

 Herausg. naturw. Ver. Bremen. XXI. 2. p. 383—384. Fig. Bremen 

 1913.) 



Sandstede sammelte auf dem Kehnmoor in Oldenburg 

 eine Cladonia hacillaris Ach., die auf den Podetien, namentlich 

 unterhalb des Apotheciums, dunkle Warzen trug. Sie sind wachs- 



