434 EXPERIMENT STATION" RECORD. 



plants in culture media to which certain percentages of different alcohols had 

 been added. 



It was found that phenols in general were more unfavorable to plant growth 

 than the true alcohols of the fatty series. In most instances no vegetation was 

 able to grow in the presence of the phenols, with the exception of a slight 

 growth of mold which occasionally developed. Of the alcohols of the fatty 

 series, methyl alcohol proved a good source of carbon for many bacteria and 

 fungi, and for some green plants. Beans and peas in water cultures containing 

 0.5 to 1 per cent solutions of methyl alcohol made a better growth than control 

 plants grown in only a mineral food solution. Pot plants of beans, peas, grain, 

 etc., also showed a positive increase in growth when watered with methyl 

 alcohol solutions. 



Ethyl alcohol was able to furnish food for bacteria, but not for the higher 

 plants. 



Investig'ations on the effect of formaldehyde on green plants, Y. Grafe 

 (Ber. Detit. Bot. GeselL, 29 (1011), No. 2, pp. 19-26, figs. 2).— In continuation of 

 a line of experiments previously reported (E. S. R., 22, p. 230) studies have been 

 made on the effect of formaldehyde gas on green plants. 



The seedlings (Phaseolus vulgaris) were grown in pots, the soil of which was 

 prevented from absorbing any of the formaldehyde gas by a coating of Stanniol 

 and vaseline, or of pai-affin. Comparisons were made between the growth in the 

 formaldehyde vapor without the presence of carbon dioxid and in an atmos- 

 phere containing carbon dioxid. 



It was found that the formaldehyde not only acted as a stimulant but was 

 really assimilated by the plants and changed into organic matter in the form of 

 reducing sugar. 



The nature, distribution, and effects upon vegetation of atmospheric im- 

 purities in and near an industrial town, C. Crowtheb and A. G. Ruston 

 (Jour. Agr. Sci., 4 (1911), No. 1, pp. 25-55, figs. 3). — The results are given of 

 investigations and observations made during the years 1906 to 1910 at the 

 Manor Fai"m, at Garforth, and in the city of Leeds, which comprised analyses 

 of rain-water samples and studies of the effects on vegetation of certain 

 atmospheric impurities, such as smoke, acid waters, etc. Special attention 

 was given to the effects of smoke-laden atmosphere upon the intensity of light, 

 the relative assimilatory power of leaves in different localities, the effects 

 of acid waters upon the growth of grass, and the bacteriological condition of 

 the soils. 



It was found that the atmosphere in the vicinity of a large industrial city, 

 such as Leeds, is relatively highly charged with impurities, many of which 

 exert a marked injurious effect upon plant growth. The rain water in such 

 regions was found to be notably rich in suspended matters, such as chlorids. 

 sulphates, and other sulphur compounds, nitrogenous compounds, and free 

 acid. The suspended matters in the air impeded plant growth, not only by 

 their deposition upon the leaves and the consequent hindrance to the free 

 interchange of gases between the leaves and the air, but also by reducing the 

 light intensity, which reduction in some instances amounted to fully 40 per 

 cent of the maximum light available. The free acid present in the atmosphei'e 

 was found to be detrimental to plant growth by its direct action on the leaves, 

 and also indirectly by reducing the ammoniacal fermentation of the soil humus, 

 and by decreasing the activity of the nitrifying and nitrogen-fixing soil organ- 

 isms. In an experiment with timothy the continued application of the acid 

 rain water produced plants distinctly poorer in protein but richer in crude fiber. 



On the systematic position of Zea mays as indicated by atavisms pro- 

 duced by smut infection (TJstilago maydis), H. Iltis (Ztschr, Induktive 



