AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 221 



process the end result of which is the awalieuiug of the i)lant. The experi- 

 ments seem to indicate the activity of enzj'ms in this connection. It appears 

 tliat along with oxidation (as evidenced by the carbon dioxid product) several 

 other processes go on, some of them accompanied by evolution of heat. 



Shortening the resting period of shoots by wounding and injection of 

 water, F. Webeb (Sitzher. K. Akad. Wiss. [Vienna], Math. Xaiurw. A7., 120 

 (191 J), I, Xo. 3, pp. llO-lD'i, pi. 1). — A report is made in re^gard to exi)eri- 

 ments conducted with buds on twigs of several sorts in hothouses, either by 

 merely wounding, or in addition thereto, injecting water at the base of the 

 bud. 



It was found that in almost every case injured buds preceded in opening 

 and rapidly outgrew the buds on the same sprouts not so treated. It ap- 

 peared that the wounding was the most significant factor, but that the injec- 

 tion of water also played a certain role in the abnormally early and rapid 

 development. 



The influence of enzyms on the respiration of plants, S. D. L'vov (Isv. 

 Imp. Akdd. \iiiUc. (Bui. Acnd. Imp. Hci. St. I'vlcrsb.). G. ser., 1011, No. 9, pp. 

 655-G78; abs. in Jour. Vhcm. »S'oc. [London], 100 (1911), No. 585, 11, p. 6',1).— 

 The author reports that taka-diastase exerts a stimulating action on the respi- 

 ration of living or dead plants of Vivia faba and wheat. This action is especially 

 marked with living plants where anaerobiosls initially takes the form of alco- 

 holic fermentation. Merck's diastase produced effects opposite to, and of less 

 magnitude than, those of t;ika-diastase. 



Emulsin was found to produce the same effects in the boiled and the unboiled 

 condition and to exert a marked retarding action on alcoholic fermentation 

 brought about by hefanol. It exhibited a stimulating influence on the respira- 

 tion in dead seeds, hence under abnormal conditions, but on the normal respira- 

 tion of living higher plants it had no effect. 



Further studies on the light requirenient of plants in relation to leaf form 

 and position, J. Wiksner (l:iitzbcr. K. Akad. M'iss. [Vienna], Matt. Nalurw. Kh, 

 120 (1911), I, No. 3, pp. ii9-/7'S).— This is a reiK)rt on a continuation of the 

 author's former studies on light relations of leaves (E. S. 11., 23, [). 72-1), and 

 is a somewhat extended discussion of leaf position as related to light require- 

 ment. 



Plants with leaves which show no relation of their position to the incidence 

 of light are here called aphotometric. Other plants assume positions which 

 fii'e favorable to light incidence or to protection for oversupply. These ixjsi- 

 tions may become fixed, as in the case of the compass plants, etc. 



The results of studies made on several plants are given in some detail. 



The relation of light and temperature to leaf fall, O. Varga (Osterr. Bot. 

 Ztschr., 61 (1911), No. 2-3, pp. 74-88; abs. iii, Magyar Bot. Lapok [Budapest], 

 10 (1911), No. 11-12, pp. US, //49).— The author reports a direct relation be- 

 tween a lack of light and a low temperature and leaf fall of plants through the 

 influence which these factors have in diminishing transpiration and assimila- 

 tion. A reduction of light or tempei-ature apijears to act through the assimi- 

 lation and transpiration of the plant, stimulating the formation of the absciss- 

 layer at the bases of the petioles and resulting in the fall of the leaves. 



Studies on cessation of flowering, H. Wacker (Jahrb. Wiss. Bot. [Pring- 

 sheim], .',9 (1911), No. 4, pp. .522-578, pJs. 3, figs. 5; abs. in Ztschr. Bot., 4 (1912), 

 No. 2, pp. 133, 134). — This is a comparative study of the various phenomena 

 accompanying this change in case of many flowers. 



Opening and closure of stomata as shown by the method of infiltration, 

 H. aiOLiscH (Ztschr. Bot., 4 (1912), No. 2, pp. 106-122, figs. 2).— A new method 

 of demonstrating the closure or degree of opening of stomata is described, which 



