ABSTRACTS OF REPORTS OF EUROPEAN INVESTIGATIONS. 



Germination of the Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuherosus), J. R. 

 Green {Ann. Agron., 15, p. 569; Centralhlt. f. Agr. Chem., 19, p. 

 710). — The tubers of the Jerusalem artichoke were fouud by the author 

 to develop during germination a ferment which changes iuulin into a 

 sugar. The ferment is present in the tubers in small quantities and 

 only during germination, but it may be artificially formed by heating 

 the tubers during 24 hours at 35° C, and may be extracted by glyc- 

 erine. Boiling destroys its activity. It is not identical with diastase; 

 and saliva has no action on inulin. 



The sugar formed by this new ferment does not crystallize, and reduces 

 less readily than laevulose or dextrose. An intermediate product is 

 formed during the change which is more soluble in cold water and dial- 

 ysesmore easily than inulin, crystallizes characteristically, and requires 

 82 per cent alcohol to dissolve it, while inulin is soluble in 65 per cent 

 alcohol. 



Transformation of the alkaloids during germination, E. Heckel {Compt. 

 Bend., 110 (1890), p. 88; Journ. Royal Mic. Soc, 1890, p. 633).— The 

 author concludes from observations made chiefly with strychnine, 

 brucin, daturin, and caffeiu, that the alkaloids in seeds are true reserve 

 food materials, since they are entirely transformed into assimilable 

 substances during germination. The alkaloids contained in the cotyle- 

 dons or in the embryo had in all cases completely disaj>peared as soon 

 as the seedlings had attained a considerable size. The results of the 

 transformation of caflein were found to be glycophyl and potassium 

 nitrate. 



Formation of nitrates in plants, Serno {Landw. Jahrb., 18 (1890), pp. 

 877-905). — Nitric acid was found in almost all families of plants, the 

 largest quantities occuring in the Malvaceae, Gruciferce, Papaveraceo}, 

 Gonvolvulacece, Labiato}, Gompositce, and Urticacece. In many plants it 

 occurs only in the roots, especially in the newly formed absorbing 

 roots; and in no case was it found in roots living in symbiosis with 

 fungi. In many perennial plants the nitrates are stored up in the roots 

 during winter as a reserve material ; in others they are formed only in 

 the spring. In annual plants they occur abundantly in all parts. The 

 nitric acid taken up by plants is believed by the author to be used in 

 the formation of amides, especially of asparagiu. 

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