AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 227 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



A text-book of botany, E. Strasbubger et al. {Lehrbuch dor Botanilc fiir 

 Hochschuleii. Jena, 1911, 11. ed., eiil., pp. VIII +646, figs. 780).— This is the 

 eleventh edition of the well-known Bonn text-book of botany, in which some 

 changes have been made and much of the material has been rewritten. The 

 general arrangement and treatment of the subject has been retained, the 

 authors believing that their experience with former editions has justified the 

 maintenance of the original plan. 



Beport of the department of botanical research, D. T. MacDougal {Car- 

 negie Inst. Wasliington Year Book, 9 {1910), pp. 55-66). — This report gives a 

 record of the investigations in progress at the desert laboratory at Tucson, Ariz. 



The investigations on parasitism of plants, root habits of desert plants, antl 

 water balance of succulents have been completed. The principal investigations 

 in progress at present are on the climatology of American deserts, condition of 

 parasitism, acclimatization studies, alterations in heredity introduced by 

 ovarial treatment, and studies on the germination and establishment of desert 

 perennials. 



Sudden variations in plants and animals, L. Blabinghem {Les Transforma- 

 tions Brusques des Etres Vivants. Paris, 1911, pp. 353, figs. 49). — This book 

 is intended as a contribution to the mutation theory of De Vries. The author 

 places on record a number of mutations among plants and animals that are 

 said to be even more conclusive than those of CEnotJiera lamnrckiana, which 

 have been so extensively studied and described. 



Problems of the biochemistry of respiration in plants, F. F. Blackman 

 ET AL. {Rpt. Brit. Assoc. Adv. Sci., 1910, pp. 762-765). — This article consists of 

 a synopsis of discussions before the joint sections of chemistry aud botany, in 

 which a discussion was had on the biochemistry of respiration, the constitution 

 and function of oxidases, and degenerative euzyms in the plant. 



The effect of chloroform upon respiration and assimilation, Annie A. 

 Irving {Ann. Bot. [London], 25 {1911), No. 100, pp. 1077-1099, figs. 2//).— Ex- 

 periments are reported with young barley shoots and leaves of cherry laurel 

 to determiue the effect of single doses of chloroform on respiration, the effect 

 of continuous treatment with chloroform, and its effect on assimilation. 



There was found to be a regular progression between the augmentative 

 effect of minute doses and the inhibitory effect of large quantities. Small 

 doses of chloroform increased respiration, aud this effect could be maintained 

 if chloroform was given continuously. If chloroform was withdrawn respira- 

 tion reverted to normal condition. Medium large doses of chloroform caused 

 an initial acceleration of carbon dioxid, followed by a decline in its production 

 to below normal. Strong doses of chloroform did not resnlt in any increase 

 of carbon dioxid production, but it rapidly fell to zero. 



The results with single doses of chloroform and continuous applications 

 are comparable in that the initial stages of action of the A-apor are most 

 significant, and when these changes are once set going the final stages run 

 their course whether the vapor is still being applied or has been stopped. 



In studying the effect of chloroform on assimilation minute doses of chloro- 

 form were found without effect in the dark, although they arrested assimilation 

 in lighted leaves. If chloroform was given for a short period at a very low 

 concentration it was found that the leaves could partially recover their 

 assimilative power upon removal, but if moderate or large doses were used 

 the assimilative power was destroyed. 



Electromotive phenomena in plants, A. D. Waller {Rpt. Brit. Assoc. Adv. 

 Sci., 1910, pp. 281-2S8, figs. 5).— In a previous report (E. S. R., 21. p. 317) 



