318 SOIL SCIENCE [BoT. Absts., Vol. VII. 



the rate of activities is in comparison with the rate in water. — Consumption of O2 increased 

 in the following: alcohol, 1, 1.5, 3, and 6 per cent; ether, 1.5, 3, 5, and 8 per cent; chloroform, 

 0.05, 0.15, 0.3 per cent; and chloretone, 0.05 per cent. It decreased in 15 per cent alcohol 

 and in 0.1 per cent chloretone. — The Ph value increased in all of the above solutions except in 

 the 1 per cent alcohol and the 0.05 per cent chloroform, and in all cases the greatest change in 

 Ph was in the highest concentration. — The rate of rotation of chloroplasts was increased in 

 1.5 and 3 per cent alcohol, and in 0.05 per cent chloroform. It was decreased in 6 per cent 

 alcohol, 1.5 and 3 per cent ether, and in 0.05 per cent chloretone. It was completely stopped 

 in 15 per cent alcohol, 5 and 8 per cent ether, 0.15 and 0.3 per cent chloroform, and in 0.10 

 per cent chloretone. — Photosynthesis was decreased in all strengths of alcohol, ether, and 

 chloroform used, and stopped by the higher concentrations. It was unchanged in the 

 strengths of chloretone used. — The diffusion of chlorides was unchanged in 1 per cent alco- 

 hol, but was greatly increased in all higher concentrations and by all other solutions used. — 

 Plasmolysis was produced by 15 per cent alcohol, 8 per cent ether, and 0.30 per cent chloro- 

 form. — The amount of oxygen used increased through the lower concentrations of the anes- 

 thetic, reached a maximum in the solution just failing to cause permanent injury, and then 

 decreased in those causing irreversible changes. Such an effect indicates that in respiration 

 at least two separate processes must be involved. — Of all the cell processes photosynthesis 

 seems to be the most readily affected by alcohol, ether, and chloroform; but as these are all 

 well-known solvents of chlorophyll such a result is probably to be expected. — G. B. Rigg. 



MISCELLANEOUS 



2175. B., W. E. American agricultural research. [Rev. of: Jour. Agric. Res. 18, Nos. 7 

 and 8. 1920.] Nature 105: 310-311. 1920. — This review is of papers on physiological balance, 

 seed treatment, and control of insects by parasites. — A. A. Stevens. 



2176. Levine, B. S., and F. P. Veitch. Testing the mildew resistance of textile. Jour. 

 Indust. Eng. Chem. 12: 139-141. 1920. — A method to test the mildew resistance of textiles 

 is described which is simple in execution and the details of which have been standardized. — 

 Henry Schmitz. 



SOIL SCIENCE 



J. J. Skinner, Editor 

 F. M. ScHERTZ, Assistant Editor 



GENERAL 



2177. Gardner, Willard. The capillary potential and its relation to soil-moisture con- 

 stants. Soil Sci. 10: 357-359. 1 fig. 1920. — A discussion is given of Briggs' equations 

 (U. S. Dept. Agric. Bur. Soils Bui. 45) and curves are drawn satisfying those equations. — 

 W. J. Rabbins. 



2178. Nottin, p. Sur le pouvoir absorbant de la terra vis-&-vis du manganese. [On the 

 absorbent power of the soil for manganese.] Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris 171 : 44-47. 1920. 



2179. Tamhane, V. A. Comparison of salt lands in the Deccan and in Sind. Agric. Jour. 

 India 15:410-417. 1920. — The paper discusses the geological origin of the salt lands and 

 compares the" regions as to the immediate cause of the salt deposits. Chemical analyses of 

 the soils, river waters, etc., which lead to the salt deposits are given. Lathyrus sativus a.nd 

 Phaseolus radiatus failed to grow in soil containing 0.48 per cent of soluble salts, 66 per cent 

 of which was Na2S04. Several crops have been found to resist the effects of soluble salts in 

 concentrations beyond 0.1 per cent. The limit of tolerance shown by some of the common 

 crops is tabulated. Rice was found to tolerate 940 parts of soluble salts per 100,000 of 

 water. — F. M. Schertz. 



