32 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



AGRICULTTmAL BOTANY. 



Plant life, J. B. Farmer (New York and London, 1913, pp. 255, figs. 28). — In 

 this book tlie author has sought to describe the salient features of plant life 

 from the Aiewpoint of function. Technicalities have been avoided as much as 

 possible and he has purposely omitted many things usually given in such a 

 work in order to treat of matters not generally discussed in popular treatises. 



A recording transpirometer, Y. H. Blackman and S. G. Paine (Ann. Bat. 

 [London], 28 (1914), No. 109, pp. 109-113, pi. 1, fig. i).— The authors describe 

 an instrument that is said to be comparatively accurate and of low cost which 

 is believed to be well adapted for physiological experiments. 



Anatomical investigations on the relation between structure and physio- 

 logical characters of plants, O. Y. Iakushkin and N. Yavilov (ZJiur. Opytn. 

 Agron. (Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.), 13 (1012), No. 6, pp. 830-861).— Descrihmg 

 and summai'izing studie,s carried out by them in relation to the views of Kolku- 

 nov (E. S. R, 20, p. 129; 21, p. 543) to the effect that there exists a correlation 

 between the size of leaf cells and stomata on the one hand and the physio- 

 logical characters (as related to drought resistance, productivity, etc.) on the 

 other, the authors state that their findings rather oppose than support such 

 correlation. 



The reciprocal relations between anatomical coefficients and physiological 

 characters of plants, Y. Y. Kolkltnov (Zliur. Opytn. Agron. (Russ. Jour. 

 Expt. Landw.), 14 (1913), No. 6, pp. 321-340). — A reply to the above, presenting 

 further arguments in support of the author's views. 



A contribution to the physiology of the purple sulphur bacteria, M. Skenk 

 (New Phytol., 13 (1914), No. 1-2, pp. i-i7).— The author gives the results of 

 investigations on some of the purple sulphur bacteria, in which he states that 

 attempts to obtain pure cultures have been without success. In mixed cultures 

 Amcebobacter, and probably also Lamprocystis, thrive best in mineral solu- 

 tions containing ammonium sulphate as a source of nitrogen and lime as a 

 neutralizing agent. Organic sources of nitrogen and carbon, as far as teste<l, 

 were unfavorable and in general inhibited the growth of the bacteria. Develop- 

 ment of these organisms can take place only in the presence of hydrogen sul- 

 phid and growth only in the presence of light. The purple sulphur bacteria 

 require free oxygen, which is probably supplied them by associated green or- 

 ganisms. 



Some toxic and antitoxic effects in cultures of Spirogyra, W. D. Hoyt (B%d. 

 Torrey Bot. Club, 40 (1913), No. 7, pp. 333-352). — A report is given of experi- 

 ments conducted to determine a nutrient solution suitable for algal growth 

 under laboratory conditions. 



Crone's solution was found to be the best solution tested, while that of 

 Molisch was almost as satisfactory. Sachs's solution and that of Knop were 

 decidedly unfavorable. Tap water and ordinary distilled water of the labora- 

 tory were found markedly toxic to this species of Spirogyra. The toxicity of 

 tap water was partially removed by concentrating It and was entirely 

 removed by heating to 144° C, or by distillation in glass. The toxicity of ordi- 

 nary distilled water was partially corrected by adding to the culture lime, 

 chalk, solid agar, dry sphagnum moss, colloidal platinum, or other absorbents. 



The results obtained seem to indicate that the toxic materials present in 

 the tap water were almost wholly volatile, while those in distilled water were 

 mostly nonvolatile, probably derived from the supply pipes and from the 

 still. Where potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, potassium chlorid, mag- 

 nesium sulphate, and calcium chlorid were used singly or in combination, a mix- 

 ture of the three potassium salts was found as toxic as potassium chlorid used 



