AGEICULTURAL BOTANY. 225 



The author, therefore, concludes that wind is one of the important factors in 

 the development of plant formations or facies. 



Plants and tobacco smoke, H. Molisch ( Umschnu, 15 (1911), No. 13, pp. 

 259-26.i, figs. 5). — A report is given of experiments conducted to test the effect 

 of tobacco smolie on plants. Seeds of vetch, beans, peas, and pumpkins were 

 sprouted and transferred to water cultures, after which they were placed under 

 bell jars, and in one of each series a large amount of tobacco smoke was blo^\Ti. 



After six days the plants were examined. All those seedlings which had been 

 kept in an atmosphere consisting largely of tobacco smoke and respired air 

 were shorter, had thicker stems, and in many instances the plants were nega- 

 tively geotropic. The injury is attributed to the tobacco smoke, which the 

 author says contains nicotin, pyridin compounds, sulphureted hydrogen, etc. 



The results are said to have an important bearing on plant growing in dwell- 

 ings, restaurants, show windows, etc., where there is a possibility of injury due 

 to illuminating gas, heated air, toliacco smoke, or other deleterious substances. 



The comparative toxicity of vegetable volatile oils on plants, II. Coupix 

 iCoiupt. Rend. Acad. Sri. [I'liri.s], l.j2 (1011), Xo. .9. pp. 5.2D-5S I) .—The author 

 reports upon a series of ex])eriments with wheat seedlings which were confined 

 under bell jars in atmospheres practically saturated with the vapor of a num- 

 ber of essential oils derived from various species of plants. 



The great majority of the essential oils were somewhat injurious, about 20 

 either killing the plants outright or causing their death in a short time, while 

 about an equal number caused injury to the extremity of the leaves. Only 

 about a dozen kinds of essential oils were found to be uninjurious. 



The iise of saponin in the preparation of insecticides and fungicides, 

 G. Gastine (Compt. Rnnl. .Acad. Set. [Paris], 152 (1911), No. 9, pp. 532-58h).— 

 Attention is called to the use of the powdered bark of quillaia, Sapindus, and 

 other preparations from a number of species of plants in connection with fungi- 

 cides and insecticides, the saponin contained in them tending to emulsify the 

 preparations and causing better distribution. 



For combating simultaneously aphids, scale insects, and the fungi causing 

 fumagine, the author recommends a solution composed of water 10 liters, 

 Sapindus powder 20 gm.. neutral acetate of copper 100 gm., and crude oil or 

 petroleum 200 cc. 



Agricultural bacteriology, J. Percival (London, 1910, pp. X-\-.'t08, figs. 

 59). — This is a textbook on bacteriology designed for students in agriculture, 

 dairying, and horticulture, and for agriculturists and horticulturists generally 

 who desire to study the causes and methods of control of many natural pro- 

 cesses with which they come in contact daily. The work embodies the results 

 of the author's experience in the scientific training of students, and deals with 

 the fundamentals of bacteriology so far as the requirements of the farm and 

 garden are concernetl. 



A bacteriological museum and bureau for the exchange of bacterial cul- 

 tures at the American Museum of Natural History, New York, C. E. A. 

 "WiNSLOw (Ahs. in Science, n. ser.. 33 (1911), No. 8.'t9, p. 539). — The department 

 of public health at this museum has equipped a laboratory to serve as a central 

 bureau for the preservation and distribution of bacterial cultures of both 

 pathogenic and nonpathogenic oi'ganisms and particularly of types of new forms 

 and varieties. The laboratory also plans to keep on file descriptions of 

 bacterial species in print or arranged in the form of the standard card. 



The proposed microbiological central station in Berlin, O. Rahn (Ahs. in 

 Science, n. ser., 33 (1911), No. 8^9, p. 539). — A review is given in this paper 

 of efforts put forth in Germany to establish a central station for the investi- 

 gation, preservation, and distribution of microbiological cultures. 



