AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 133 



showing a close relation between the extracted lipoids and the amount of 

 carbon dioxid set free. 



The fermentation of " hefanol " is more depressed bj' alcohol than by acetone. 



Some recent investigations on the formation of starch in plant cells, A. 

 GuiLLiERMOND (Compt. Reiiil. Soc. Biol. [Paris], 12 {IV 12), Xo. 7, pp. 276- 

 279, figs. 9). — It is claimed that a study of starch formation in potatoes, in 

 the roots of Phajus graiidifolim, and in other plants indicates a mitochondrial 

 origin and that the leucoplasts of Schimper are identical with the chondrio- 

 somes of animals. Further studies are claimed to show that in plants starch is 

 a direct result of the activity of the chondriosomes. 



Glycogen in phanerogams and its relation to oxalate of lime, J. Politis 

 (Atti R. Accad. Lincei, Rend. CI. Sci. Fis., Mat. e Xat., 5. ser., 20 (1911), II, No. 

 8, pp. Ji31-.'i39). — Studies were made on Orchis morio, Bletia hyacinthma, Pit- 

 cairnia xanthocalyx, and Billbergia nutans. 



The author found glycogen to exist in several phanerogams, as well as in the 

 few cryptogams in which it is asserted to be confined. The mucilage of the 

 tubers of Orchis is asserted to be composed chiefly of glycogen. In the phanero- 

 gams examined by him glycogen was formed only in the cells containing oxalate 

 of lime in the form of i-aphides, from which fact he infers some relation exist- 

 ing between the carbohydrate and the ^-•alt in question. 



Origin and oflBce of oxalate of lime in plants, J. Politis (Atti B. Accad. 

 Lined, Rend. CI. Sci. Fis., Mat. e. Nat., 5. ser., 20 {1911), II, No. 9, pp. 528- 

 53-'f). — This article, after summing up the conclusions of various other investi- 

 gators bearing upon these points, gives the conclusions drawn from the author's 

 own work briefly as follows: Oxalic acid, with its resulting calcium oxalate, has 

 its origin in the cell in which the salt is found in crystalline form, and the 

 acid is formed by oxidation of glycogen or amyloids. 



The views of various others as to the office of the salt are given. 



Essential oils and other volatile plant products as the cause of sap 

 movements, I. Giglioli {Atti R. Accad. Lincei, Rend. CI. Sci. Fis., Mat. e Nat., 

 5. ser., 20 {1911), II, No. 8, pp. S'lO-SGl; ahs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 102 

 {1912), No. 591, If, p. 79). — These investigations appear to be one phase of a 

 more general study by the author of water movement in living tissues. Besides 

 giving consideration to the work and reports of some others in the same field, 

 he presents the results of his own researches with various volatile substances 

 in regard to their influence on movement of water in the case of fruits, 

 potatoes, fresh wood, etc. 



It was found that in several cases, notably that of cactus in chloroform vapor, 

 the movement of water from the plant and presumably through its interior 

 tissue was considerably increased by the presence of a volatile body. The sug- 

 gestion is made that such products in the plant tissues may be a more or less 

 important modifying factor in transpiration and related processes. 



Formation of alkaloids in tobacco, C. Ravenna and V. Babini {Atti R. 

 Accad. Lincei, Rend. CI. Sci. Fis., Mat. e Nat., 5. ser., 20 {1911), II, No. 8, pp. 

 893-39S). — This is a report of investigations in close relation to those carried 

 on by G. Ciamician and C. Ravenna (E. S. R., 25, p. 634), M. Treub, and others 

 cited. Tobacco plants in 5 groups were grown in nutritive solutions differing 

 only as to the presence or absence of calcium nitrate (0.1 per cent) and of 

 glucose (2 per cent), and under other conditions alike except as to the admission 

 or exclusion of light. 



It was found that the maximum percentage of nicotin in terms of the plant's 

 Gi'iginal weight was obtained by the plant from the solution containing glucose 

 in light ; the minimum from the same solution in darkness. The difference Is 



