434 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



(liniiiiutidii of iiionosaccbarids as compared with disacchai-ids. I)<>xtrose is 

 associated with the nionosafcharids of the lieet leaves. Tliere are indications 

 that cane sugar is not an intermediate ])r<)dnct of beet leaves, but is a reserve 

 capable of translocation to other parts of the plant. This the author expects 

 to Investigiite more fully. 



Injurious action of acetates and formates on plants, K. Aso {BuL Col. Agr., 

 Tokyo Imp- I nii'.. 7 {I'.iiiG), Xo. ], pp. 13-2 'i). — The author states that free 

 acetic and formic acids even in considerable dilution are injurious to plants, 

 although it was not to be expected that the sodium and calcium salts of these 

 acids in moderate concentration would prove injurious to phanerogams. The 

 effect of various acetates and formates was found to differ very materially 

 from that of the oxalates, and marked differences were observed in the be- 

 havior of acetates and formates toward flowering plants and algje. 



Experiments were carried on with various alga\ seedlings of sorghum, onions, 

 peas, barley, young branches of oak. and other plants, to show that the acetates 

 and formates of alkaline metals and calcium act injuriously on flowering plants 

 In solutions of ().."> i)er cent or over, while under the same conditions they are 

 not injurious to the higher alga?. Neutral potassium acetate of the same con- 

 centration is poisonous to both phanerogams and higher algae. 



The pni.-iomius action of acetates and formates is lield to be caused by the 

 hydrolytic dissociation of these salts into acids and bases in the living cells, 

 whereby the base is absorbed by the proteids and the acid being set free injures 

 the protoplasm. 



Stimulating influence of sodium fluorid on garden plants, K. Aso (Bui. 

 Col. Aiir.. Tokiju Imp. Univ., 7 {1906), 2\o. 1, pp. S3, 8 J). — Pot experiments 

 with seeds of a number of plants were carried on, which showed the stimulat- 

 ing effect of small quantities of sodium fluorid. The flowers appeared flrst 

 in the pots which contained 0.02 gm. sodium fluorid. But little difi'erence w^as 

 noticed, however, in the size of the flowers in the treated and untreated pots. 



The stimulating action of calcium fluorid on phanerogams, K. Aso (Btil. 

 Col. Afjr., Tokyo Imp. I iiir.. 7 (1906). Xo. 1. pp. S.-,-90. pi. l).—ln other 

 experiments the author has found that sodium fluorid acts as a strong poison 

 on seeds and seedlings, although it exerts a stinudating etfect on their develop- 

 ment when highly diluted. 



The fact that in soil cultures sodium fluorid passes readily into calcium 

 fluorid, which is but slightly soluble, renders it probable that the stimulating 

 compound in soil cultures is not sodium fluorid, but calcium fluorid. In order 

 to determine this, experiments ^yere made with peas and barley, which showed 

 that calcium fluorid is formed in the soil when sodium fluorid is applied, aud 

 that as it is slightly soluble in water it can act as a stimulant of plant growth. 



The degree of stimulating action of manganese and iron salts on barley, 

 T. Kataya.ma (Bui. Col. Ayr.. Tokyo Imp. liiir.. 7 (1906), No. 1, pp. 91-93, 

 dgm. 1). — Investigations with oats, upland rice. !>arley, and wheat have shown 

 that the stimulating effect of manganese salts is less on cereals than on legu- 

 minous plants. Exi)eriments were conducted to determine the amount of 

 manganese salt necessary to produce as favorable results on the common 

 cereals as have been obtained with this salt when ap])lied to peas. 



When fractional doses of high dilution were ai)plied as top dressing, the 

 results showed that 0.01 per cent of manganese and iron suli)hates produced 

 a moderate increase in the harvest of barley, but that a further increase led 

 to a general decrease in yield. 



The micro-organisms of natto, S. Sawamura (Bnl. Col. Ayr., Tokyo Imp. 

 Univ., 7 (1906), Xo. 1, pp. 107-110). — Natto, which is a kind of vegetable cheese 



