230 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



From the data obtaiiu'd it seemed that there was practically no difference in 

 tile proportion of aspara^iu in the upper and lower portions of the two-weeliS- 

 old stems. While there was considerable tiuctnation between Individuals, the 

 determinations showed such sllpht differences that the author thinks they could 

 be disregarded. 



Alleged utilization of atmospheric nitrogen by certain special trichomes 

 in plants, F. Kovkssi (Com /it. Rend. Acdd. Scl. [f'aris]. ] )'.) (I'.lOD), \o. /. 

 jjp. 5G-o8). — Following the publication of the investigation of Janiieson (E. S. R., 

 19, p. 127), the author has made a study of the special trichomes which it is 

 claimed are able to store ui) and utilize the nitrogen of the air. He cultivated 

 a large number of species of plants in hermetically sealed jars and later ex- 

 amined them and found that the trichomes on plants cultivated either in the 

 open air or in atniosi)heres deprived of nitrogen developed in precisely the same 

 manner. These trichomes on examination showed no evidence that the albumi- 

 noid substances contained in them were obtained from the nitrogen of the air. 



The presence of a cyanogenetic glucosid in Linaria striata, E. Boukquelot 

 {Jour. Pharm. ct Chun., 6. ser., 30 (1909), No. 9, pp. 385-389).— The author 

 reports that L. striata, a rather common roadside weed, is shunned by sheep, 

 and a study was made to determine the cause. He found the plant to contain a 

 cyanogenetic glucosid which under the action of emulsion gave hydrocyanic 

 acid, benzoic aldehyde, and a reducing sugar, probably glucose. 



Investigations on the effect of formaldehyde on green plants, V. Grafe 

 ;ind Emmy Vieser (Ber. Dent. Bot. GcscJI., 21 {190'.)), A-o. 7, pp. 431-U6, figs. 

 2). — In continuation of a line of experiments previously reported (E. S. R., 

 21, ]). 128), studies have been made on the effect of formaldehyde gas on green 

 plants. Bean seedlings were grown in atmospheres containing this gas with 

 and without carbon dioxid and the effect noted. The report is only a pre- 

 liminary one and the authors state that no deductions are to be drawn from 

 their experiments. 



Smoke injury from steam eng'ines, W. Herbig {Ztsclir. Angew. Chem., 22 

 {1909), No. 39, pp. 1882-1890, figs. 2). — A review is given of literature showing 

 the injurious effect of smoke and dust from flues of different kinds of indus- 

 trial works, and attention is called to the injury due to locomotive engines 

 which is attributed not only to sulphuric but also to sulphurous acid given 

 off by them. 



Studies in heredity as illustrated by the trichomes of species and hybrids 

 of Juglans, (Enothera, Papaver, and Solanum, W. A. Cannox (Carnegie 

 Inst. Washington Pnh. Ill', pp. 61, pis. 10, figs. 21). — Studies were made of 

 the trichomes of 11 different species and hybrids of .luglans, CEnothera, Pa- 

 paver, and Solanum, which represent considerable range of life conditions as 

 well as types of variation. 



The GEnothera hybrids were found to inherit chai-acters from both parents, 

 but did not revert to either line. Only one type of trichome was found in 

 Papaver which had in the hybrids an intermediate structural character. In 

 the Solanum hybrid as well as in the species two types of trichomes were found, 

 but of these only one was common to both parental lines and the hybrid. The 

 second type found in the hybrid was inherited from »S. giiinense. In the Jug- 

 lans hybrids examined the first and second generations showed intermediate 

 leaf characters and each hybrid was found to bear all the trichomes found in 

 both parents. In the second generation some abnormal trichomes were found 

 that were evident modifications of the types already existing. 



Variation in peas, F. A. Waugh and J. K. Shaw {Massachusetts Sta. Rpt. 

 1908, pt. 2, pp. 161-173, dgms. 3). — In continuation of the previous report (E. S. 



