730 EXPERIMENT STJATION RECORD. 



The intensity of respiration in proportion to the fresh weight of the floral 

 organs decreases with age except in the case of the pistils, which often show 

 increased respiration as long as thej' continue to develop. The intensity of 

 respiration of the floral organs in respec-t to their age increases for each of the 

 parts of the flower except the stamens, in which there is a falling off corre- 

 sponding to the maturity of the pollen grain. 



The respiratory quotient of the floral organs was found to be greater than 

 that of the leaves, and the pistil greater than that of the stamens. 



The reproductive fronds of the vascular cryptogams were found to have 

 greater respiration than the vegetative ones. 



The influence of air currents on transpiration, Maud A. Brown (Proc. Iowa 

 Acad. ScL. 11 (IDIO). pp. 13-15). — This is a brief preliminary report on experi- 

 ments to show the influence of air currents on the transpiration of Clivea and 

 one of the Amaryllitlacere. The results show that in every case of plants ex- 

 posed to the strongest current a checking of transpiration occurred, while gentler 

 currents stimulated transpiration. 



The action of the osmotic pressure of the nutrient media on the form and 

 structure of plants, J. Beauverie {Rev. G^n. Bot., 23 {1911), No. 269, pp. 212- 

 219, figs. 8). — The author gives the results of experiments on growing Asper- 

 gilhis, Pliaseolus, Pisum, Lupinus, Zea, and Triticum in various concentrations, 

 with special reference to the modification in structure induced by the osmotic 

 pressure of the nutrient media in which the i)Iants were grown. 



Aniyloclastic secretory capacities of the embryo and aleurone layer of 

 Hordeum, I, F. Stoward {Ann. Bot. [London], 25 {1911), No. 99, pp. 799- 

 S^i).— This is a study of the digestion and ultimate depletion of the storage- 

 reserve materials of the endos!>erms of cereal seeds during the progress of 

 germination, with special refei'ence to the question of the vitality and auto- 

 depletion of the endospei'm. The phases investigated include the amyloclastic 

 secretory ca])acity of the embryo and of the aleurone layer of barley and the 

 relative amyloclastic secretory and self-depletive capacity of the endosperm and 

 inner endosperm. 



It is claimed that the experiments here reported prove that both the embryo 

 and the aleurone layer possess an amyloclastic secretory capacity, but that the 

 magnitude of the aleurone layer capacity is much the greater. The endosperm, 

 by virtue of the secretoi-y functions of the aleurone layer, was found to be 

 capable of true auto-depletion. 



On the penetration of salts into the protoplasm and the nature of their 

 toxic action, J. de Rufz de Lavison (.-Inn. .SV?. Xat. Bot., 9. ser., l.'j {1911), No. 

 1-3, pp. 97-189, fig. 1, dgms. 6). — This is a more extended investigation of this 

 snb.1ect than has been heretofore given by the author (E. S. R., 24, p. 532). It 

 includes discussions on the general properties of colloids and of protoplasm, 

 and on the general proi>erties of salts in regard to their possible mode of action 

 on the proto])lasm together with the results of experiments on the peneti-ation 

 of salts into the protoplasm, and the action on and toxicity produced by these 

 salts. 



It was found that for weak solutions, cations of alkalis and alkaline earths 

 combined with a nontoxic anion easily penetrated the protoplasm. The salts 

 of barium, of caesium, and of iodin penetrated the protoplasm with difllculty. 

 Certain salts of aluminum and yttrium and a large majority of the salts of 

 the heavy metals do not penetrate the living protoplasm. Contrary to current 

 opinions, the author found that the permeability of the protoplasm to weak 

 solutions is an absolutely different phenomenon to its permeability by strong 

 solutions. The protoplasm under the influence of strong solutious becomes com- 

 pletely permeable, without, however, being killed by those salts which in weak 



