AGETCULTURAI, BOTANY. 127 



[Miscellaneous analyses, 1910], R. E. Rose {Fla. Quart. Bui. Dept. Agr., 

 21 {1911), No. 1, pp. 151-161). — ^Analyses of miscellaneous samples of soils, 

 muck, phosphates, marls, limestones, and other substances are reported. 



Fertilizers, R. E. Rose and L. Heimburgeb {Fla. Quart. Bui. Dept. Agr„ 21 

 {1911), No. 1, pp. 6, 7, 9-Vf, 22-3.1,, 45-82).— The results of fertilizer inspection 

 in Florida, giving results of analyses during 1910, are here reported. 



[Fertilizer inspection in Ohio], N. W. Lord and A. Vivian {Off Bui. Ohio 

 Dept. Agr., 2 {1911), No. 2, pp. 12-33). — Analyses and valuations of fertilizers 

 collected in the State during the spring of 1911 are reported, with notes on 

 valuation of fertilizers and the use of fertilizers on different soils and crops. 

 The text of the nev7 fertilizer law, which becomes effective December 1, 1911, 

 is given. The new law requires a more specific statement as to the character 

 of the ingredients used in mixed fertilizers and closer agreement with guaran- 

 tied composition. 



Analyses of commercial fertilizers, R. N. Brackett {South Carolina Sta. 

 Bui. 160, pp. 64)- — This bulletin gives results of analyses and valuations of 

 1,605 samples of commercial fertilizers inspected during the season of 1910-11. 



Georgia's new fertilizer law {Amer. Fert., 35 {191\1), No. 9, p. 40). — The text 

 of the law approved August 22, 1911, is given. This law, which is in addition 

 to those already in force, provides especially for a statement of the sources 

 of the ingredients in the fertilizer, and award of damages to purchasers of 

 fertilizers falling below their guarantied commercial value. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



Investigations on the effect of etherization on plant metabolism, Jenny 

 Hempel {K. Danske Vidensk. Selsk. 8kr., Naturvidensk. og Math. Afd., 7. ser., 6 

 {1911), No. 6, pp. 215-278, fig. 1). — After giving a resume of previous investi- 

 gations on the effects of anesthetics on plants, the author describes her experi- 

 ments with ripening seeds and seedlings of peas and lupines, maple buds, and 

 potato tubers, ether being used in all cases as the anesthetic. 



Small doses of ether accelerated the production of carbon dioxid in pea 

 seedlings when exposed for a short time. Large doses retarded carbon dioxid 

 production in proportion to the amount of ether used. During the after effect 

 of ether narcosis the respiratory processes were always retarded. Sugar forma- 

 tion was accelerated in pea seedlings when exposed for a short time to small 

 quantities of ether, but longer exposure and fairly large quantities of ether 

 retarded it. Still larger amounts of ether increased the quantity of sugar 

 present, due probably to the cessation of the transformation of sugars into 

 polysaccharids. The inversion of sugars was checked by all treatments. The 

 destruction of proteids accompanied by the formation of amids was accelerated 

 by small quantities of ether, while larger doses retarded the destructive 

 metabolism. 



In ripening seeds small doses of ether accelerated the synthesis of proteids, 

 while larger quantities retarded it. Very large amounts of ether not only 

 arrested the increase in proteids but destroyed those already formed. A 

 similar effect was observed for ix)tato tubers. No injury was noticed in maple 

 buds subjected to ether in small amounts. An increase in amids followed the 

 exposure of treated buds to darkness. Large doses killed the buds. 



As a resume of the results, the author calls attention to the difference in 

 the phases of the effect of ether-narcotization. First, there is an exciting 

 phase which is produced by small doses used for exposures of short duration, 

 and in which the normal processes of plant activity are accelerated. A second 

 phase, narcosis proper, is produced by small doses for protracted periods, or 



