No. 1. August, 1921] PHYSIOLOGY 71 



than for a typical mesophyte. Likewise the loss of water from succulent plants was consid- 

 erably in excess of that from certain specified mesophytes. Experiments in which the aerial 

 parts were immersed showed that the plants could absorb water, the amount taken up varying 

 with the concentration of the salt solution, and the length of time they were submerged. 

 Absorption was more rapid when the plants were immersed in fresh water than in sea-water. 

 Experiments showed also that the aqueous vapor of the atmosphere could be utilized. — 

 L. L. Harter. 



475. Sahasrabuddhe, D. L. A preliminary note on the effect of waterings on the amount 

 of acids secreted by the gramplant [Cicer ArietinumJ. Agric. Jour. India 15: 0130-039. 1920. — 

 In previous work (Agric. Res. Inst. Pusa Bull. 45. 1914) it was found that the gramplant was 

 continually producing acid during its period of growth; the acids were found to be malic and 

 oxalic. Glandular hairs which are found in large proportion on the ovaries are acid pro- 

 ducing. Experiments in pots, recorded in this paper, show that the greater the amount of 

 watering the greater the acidity of the plant. — J. J. Skinner. 



MINERAL NUTRIENTS 



476. Breazeale, J. F., andLyman J. Briggs. Concentration of potassium in orthoclase 

 solutions not a measure of its availability to wheat seedlings. Jour. Agric. Res. 20: G15-021. 

 1921. — The orthoclase used was obtained near Riverside, California. It contained 12.5 per 

 cent potassium oxide. Aqueous extracts contained 2-9 parts per million soluble potas- 

 sium. Experiments with wheat seedlings showed that the soluble potassium in aqueous solu' 

 tion derived from finely ground orthoclase is not absorbed to a measurable degree. The 

 availability of potassium is not increased by addition of calcium carbonate or sulphate, 

 carbon dioxide, or by boiling, but it is increased by oxidizing the solute with hydrochloric 

 or nitric acid. The action of the acids is to break down the complex solute molecule. — D. 

 Reddick. 



477. BucKNER, G. Davis. Comparative utilization of the mineral constituents in the 

 cotyledons of bean seedlings grown in soil and in distilled water. Jour. Agric. Res. 20 : 875-880. 

 1921. — A notably larger amount of reserve material was translocated from the cotyledons 

 when the beans were grown in soil than when grown in distilled water. In either case a smaller 

 proportion of calcium is translocated than of phosphorus or of magnesium. — D. Reddick. 



478. Davis, A. R. The variability of plants grown in water cultures. Soil Sci. 11: 1-32. 

 Fig. 1-12. 1921 . — The variability of Sonora wheat grown 5 weeks in 33 replicate water culture 

 solutions and 33 days in 50 replicate water culture solutions showed a range of 20 per cent 

 on either side of the mean for culture weights and about 50 per cent when individual cultures 

 were considered. Chance selections of duplicate cultures in the first series showed means 

 varying from 1.82 to 2.55 gm. — W. J . Robbins. 



479. EsPiNO, Rafael B. Some aspects of the salt requirements of young rice plants. 

 Philippine Jour. Sci. 16: 455-523. PI. 1, fig. 1-9. 1920.— These studies deal with the mineral 

 nutrition of lowland rice plants for the phase of their development represented by the 3-week 

 period following germination. The experiments were carried out in spring and summer 

 in a Baltimore greenhouse. The best results were obtained by the use of a 4-salt solution, 

 monopotassium phosphate, calcium nitrate, magnesium sulphate, and ammonium sulphate 

 with trace of ferric phosphate. — Albei't R. Sweetser. 



480. Jones, Linus H., and John W. Shive. The influence of iron in the forms of ferric 

 phosphate and ferrous sulfate upon the growth of wheat in a nutrient solution. Soil Sci. 11: 

 93-99. PI. 1, fig. 1. 1921. — The growth of wheat in water cultures containing mineral salts, 

 to which iron phosphate or iron sulphate containing equivalent amounts of iron were added, 

 indicates that iron sulphate is a more available source of iron for wheat than iron phosphate. — 

 W. J. Robbins. 



