634 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



The formation of asparag'in in sprouting vetches, G. I. Ritman {Izv. 

 MosJcov. SelsJc. Khoz. Inst. {Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou), 18 {1912), No. 2, pp. 

 212-220). — From sUadies of you3ig seedlings of Vicia sativa, nourished with 

 ammonia and nitrates, the author concludes that almost all the nitrogen assimi- 

 lated by the roots in darkness goes into the formation of asparagin. 



Protein formation by sterile cultures of higher plants in darkness, 

 I. Shulov {Zhnr, Opytn. Agron. {Russ. Jour. Expt. LamJw.), 13 {1912), No. 2, 

 207-210). — Investigations carried out with sterile cultures of maize in darkness, 

 supplied with a prepared carbohydrate (saccharose), are said to have shown 

 the following results: Assimilation of the nitrogen-free organic material, the 

 depressing effect of ammonium sulphate on plant development, the decrease 

 of such imfavorable influence by employment of ammonium nitrate, a con- 

 siderable increase of proteins, and confirmation of the practicability and 

 reliability of the methods here employe<l. 



The utilization of ammoniacal nitrogen by corn plantlets, S. I. Kalinkin 

 {Izv. Moskov. ,S'f7.«>A-. Klioz. Inst. (Ann. Inst. Agron. Moscou), 18 {1912), No. 1, 

 pp. 180-192). — The author experimented with 4 different lots of young maize 

 plants kept in darkness for 10 days and supplied, respectively, with (1) water, 

 (2) a 0.075 per cent solution of ammonium chlorid, (3) the same percentage 

 of the chlorid plus calcium carbonate, and (4) of the chlorid with calcium 

 sulphate. 



The results showed that the nitrogen of the ammoniacal salt is utilized by the 

 plant in the construction of protein, either directly or through the formation 

 of asparagin. The results, in general, agree with those obtained by Prianish- 

 nikov and Shulov with peas (E. S. R., 24, p. 629), Godlewski with grains 

 (E. S. R., 26, p. 625), and of Ritman with vetches and Periturin with pumpkin 

 seeds, noted above. 



Further experiments on the utilization of ammonium salts by green 

 plants, E. Pantanelli and G. Seveeini {Staz. Sper. Agr. Ital., 44 (1911), No. 

 11-12, pp. S73-908).— Continuing previous work (E. S. R., 25, p. 223), the 

 authors find that ammoniacal nitrogen has a potential nutritive value for plants 

 superior to that of nitrates, but the full expression of that higher value is con- 

 ditioned upon (1) slow absorption of the ammonium cation *.y the roots, (2) 

 about equal absorption of the corresiwnding anion, and (3) the possession of a 

 nutritive value by the anion itself. 



The presence of nitrifying bacteria in ordinary sand cultures, I. Shulov 

 {Zhnr. Opytn. Agron. {Rnss. Jour. Expt. Landw.), 13 {1912), No. 2, pp. 211- 

 215). — By introducing into the substratum for nitrifying bacteria sand from 

 ordinary cultures, the author was able to show that these bacteria may be 

 present in such cultures and that the process of nitrification may occur therein. 

 Notable losses of ammonia gas were observed by this investigator, as previously 

 by H. Astafjew. and attributed to the action of magnesium carbonate on 

 ammonium sulphate. 



On the presence of glutamic acid in the tomato, N. Monti (Staz. Spcr. Agr. 

 Ital., 44 {1911). No. 11-12, pp. 8/3-823).— The author claims to have demon- 

 strated the presence of this acid in the sap of tomatoes, but has been unable to 

 determine its origin. 



On anthocyanin-forming bodies, J. Politis (Atti R. Accad. Lined, Rend. CI. 

 .<^'^/. Fis., Mat. c Nat., 5. ser., 20 (1911), I, No. 11, pp. 828-834; "^s. in Bot. 

 CrnthL, 119 {1912), No. 21, p. 524). — After a brief discussion of the mechanism 

 of anthocyauin formation, the a\ithor gives an account of his investigations 

 with flowers of BiUhergia nutans. Iris fimhriata, Lwlia anceps, AqnUegia glan- 

 dnlosa, Erica carnea, Nepeta glechoma, CJerodendron halfouri, Weigela japonica, 

 W. rosea, and on fruits of ConvaUaria japonica. 



