AGIllCULTtJRAL BOTANY. 438 



organic nitrogenous compounds, it is claimed that the production of amido- 

 nitrogen and other nonproteid nitrogenous substances is proportionate to the 

 amount of phosphoric acid present in the seeds, especially the phosphoric acid 

 of Posternak. The author believes that Posternak's phosphoric acid is a 

 combination of phosphorus with inosit, that lecithin is a combination of phos- 

 phorus with glycerin, stearic acid, and collin (colina), and that lecithin repre- 

 sents the final stage by which nonnitrogenous organic substances acquire the 

 power of combining with nitrogen, especially with amino acids, for the synthe- 

 sis of albuminoid substances. 



On the utilization by higher plants of various organic nitrogenous sub- 

 stances, M. MoLLiARD (Bui. 8oc. Hot. France, 57 {1910), No. 7, pp. 5.'il-5.'t7). — 

 In the experiments here recorded on the absorption by the roots and the utiliza- 

 tion by the plants of organic nitrogenous compounds, the author investigated 3 

 main points, viz, (1) the action of various organic nitrogenous substances on 

 the development and production of fresh and dry matter, (2) the total nitrogen 

 content of plants thus growai, and (3) the formation of protein substances from 

 the absorbed nitrogen. 



The following substances were used in the culture media in the ratio of 

 1:1,000 parts: Urate of sodium, aspartic acid, asparagin (1:500), glycocoll, 

 legumin, cs'anid of sodium, amygdalin, hydrocyanic acid, leucin, tyrosin, rnyro- 

 nate of potassium, and alauin. Of these substances the first 9 were utilized by 

 the plants as shown by the increase in fresh and dry matter over similar plants 

 grown as checks. This utilization was greatest by the urate of sodium, and 

 decreased in the order named down to leucin. Tyrosin, myronate of ix)tassium, 

 and alanin were toxic to the roots. The amount of proteid nitrogen found in 

 seedlings grown in the presence of asparagin and glycocoll was about twice the 

 total nitrogen content of the ungerminated seeds. 



The action of useful and injurious stimulants on the respiration of liv- 

 ing and dead plants, N. Ivanov {Biochcm. Ztschr., 32 {1911), No. 1, pp. 7-'f-96, 

 fig. 1). — In continuation of previous investigations (E. S. R., 24, p. 138) the 

 author has carried on experiments on the action of inorganic phosphorus com- 

 pounds, the autolytic products of yeast cells, quinin, sodium selenate, arbutin, 

 and other substances on the respiration of living and dead wheat seedlings, and 

 on the etiolated tips of beans. 



It was found that 1 and 2 per cent solutions of disodium phosphate did not 

 stimulate respiration in the living bean tips, but that when killed by freezing 

 an increased respiration was apparent, amounting to 27 per cent for the 1 per 

 cent solution of the phosphate and 62 per cent for the 2 per cent solution. The 

 increased output of carbon dioxid was at the expense of the primary anaerobic 

 processes. The phosphate did not produce on the dead tissues any increase of 

 respiration in the secondary oxidation process. 



These experiments, it is claimed, furnish a new proof of the genetic connec- 

 tion between the primary anaerobic and the secondary oxidation stage of the 

 respiration processes in the higher plants. The increased carbon dioxid output 

 can not be ascribed to a stimulating action of the phosphates, as the increase 

 also occurred with dead tissues. In the experiments with yeast it was found 

 that the autolytic products favored principally the primary anaerobic respira- 

 tion stage. The quinin increased the carbon dioxid output of the living tissues, 

 but on the dead tissues it acted either as a poison or had no influence. The 

 other substances tested depressed the respiration of both living and dead 

 tissues. 



The action of methyl alcohol and other alcohols on green plants and 

 micro-organisms, T. Bokorny {Centll. Bakt. [etc.'], 2. Abt., 30 {1911), No. 

 1-3, pp. 53-64). — The results are given of experiments on the growth of various 



