AGRICULTURAL, BOTANY. 123 



Inoculation experiments on different legumes with Azotogen, nitragin, 

 and infected soil, H. von Feilitzen {Centbl. Bakt. [etc.], 2. Abt., 29 (1911), 

 No. 6-8. in). 198-205, pis. 7, figs. 2). — The results are given of experiments with 

 soy beans, yellow and blue lupines, serradella, and hybrid clover grown in new 

 moor soils, in which Azotogen (a new trade preparation of legume tubercle bac- 

 teria), nitragin, and soil previously grown to the same legume (soy bean ex- 

 cepted), were used as inoculating materials. 



The soil infections showed the usual beneficial results, except in the case of 

 the soy bean plant, where no tubercles were formed, as the inoculating soil was 

 from garden beans (Fhaseolus vulgaris). The Azotogen cultures gave very fa- 

 vorable results on all the legumes, while the nitragin gave poorer and less cer- 

 tain results than either of the others. 



The physiology of catalase and reductase, V. I. Palladin {Dnevn. XII. 

 8"Qz<ki Russ. E.ii.-l.Hp. i Vrach [Moscow], 1910, No. 3, p. 17; ahs. in Zhur. 

 Opytn. Agron. (Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.), 11 (1910), No. 1, p. 127).— The 

 author states that in the autolysis of zymogen and seedlings of wheat in water 

 the amount of catalase gradually decreases. 



In the presence of disodium phosphate the amount of catalase increases. 

 Monopotassium phosphate decreases the amount of catalase while dipotassium 

 phosphate destroys it. The different phosphates act similarly on reductase. 

 Since the different phosphates act in a similar way on the alcoholic ferments, 

 catalase and reductase may be considered as anaerobic ferments, but the fer- 

 mentative nature of both are to be given further study. 



Observations on the growth and energy of germination of cereals, V. Vineb 

 (Otclict Shatiloi: fe'c/.yfc. Klio.:;. Opiitn. Stantsii, J, (1909), pt. 2, pp. 90-109; ahs. 

 in Zhur. Opytn. Agron. (Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.), 11 (1910), No. 2, pp. 26S, 

 26.'i). — Studies were made on the vitality and viability of seeds, principally of 

 oats, from which it was found that the growth was intimately related to the 

 size and absolute weight of the seeds, while the rapidity of germination was 

 determined by the degree of ripeness and plumpness of the grain. 



Concerning the selective permeable membrane of wheat grains, H. 

 ScHROEDER {Flora, 102 (1911), No. 2, pp. 186-208, figs. 4, dgni. i).— The author 

 reports studies made on the permeability of the seed coats of wheat with a 

 number of different solutions, the results confirming in the main those of Brown 

 as to the existence of a selective permeable membrane (E. S. R., 18, p. 727; 21, 

 p. 126). 



The role of living cells in the ascent of water in plants, P. A. Roshakdt 

 (Bot. Centbl, Beihefte, 25 (1910), 1. Abt., No. 3, pp. 2J,3-357, figs. 2; abs. in 

 Jotir. Roy. Ilort. Sc. [London], 36 (1910), No. 2, pp. h~h, //75).— The author 

 carried on experiments with about 800 plants, representing 131 different species, 

 in which he studied the assistance given by the living cells of the stem and 

 petiole in the ascent of sap. 



Portions of stems and petioles were killed by means of steam, ether, or xylol. 

 When this was done the distal portions withered after a greater or less interval. 

 The water was found to pass through the dead portion, although in greatly 

 reduced quantity. The withering of the leaves is held to show that some of 

 the living cells were killed. The longer the portion of stem or petiole killed 

 the sooner the withering took place. Plants of the same species, and in the 

 same stage of growth, withered in the same time if the part of the stem or 

 petiole killed was of the same length. Younger jiortions were found to perish 

 sooner than older ones. In none of the plants was there any trace of injury 

 either to the stem or leaves below the portion killed by steam, ether, or xylol. 

 98334°— No. 2—11 3 



