126 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



In the case of plnstid pigments, the tjiie may contain carotin, xanthin, or 

 both, and varieties arise in some cases from loss of power to produce carotin, 

 or in others from loss of some of the constituents of xanthin. Anthocyanin may 

 exist together with plastid pigments, in which case derivative products of both 

 forms of pigmentation are found among the varieties. 



Investigations on the etiolation of plants, G. Kranzlin (Ztschr. Pflanzen- 

 Icrank., 18 {1908), No. J,, pp. 193-203, fig. 1).— After giving a summary and 

 criticism of Baur's investigations on infectious chlorosis (E. S. R., IS, p. 648), 

 the author describes his studies on the distribution of coloring material in 

 etiolated plants, particular attention being given to the presence of carotin 

 and the different chlorophylls recently described by Tsvett (E. S. R., 20, p. 739). 



Material of a number of variegated plants was studied, and in all the yellow 

 leaves chlorophyllin was found present, the only difference in the green leaves 

 being in the quantity of green coloring matter present. There appears to be no 

 distinction between the coloring matters in plants affected with infectious and 

 noninfectious chlorosis or with the different forms of etiolation. 



The permeability of the covering's of the seeds of barley, A. J. Brown 

 {Froc. Roy. Soc. [London], Scr. B, 81 {1909), No. B 5.'j6, pp. 82-93, dgm. 1).— 

 The author states that the seeds of the variety of barley known as Hordcu))i 

 vulgarc cccrulescens owe their color to the presence of a blue pigment in the 

 aleurone cells. This pigment, like litmus, is turned red by acids. Such seeds, 

 when immersed in a dilute solution of sulphuric acid, soon turn a pink color 

 if their coverings are damaged, but if the integument is not injured they will 

 imbibe water, become soft and swollen, and retain their color for a considerable 

 time. 



A study was made of the behavior of the seed coats, and the penetrating 

 power of solutions of a number of chemicals was investigated. The investiga- 

 tions are considered as only preliminary, but the general ti'end of the evidence 

 tends to show that solutions of the solutes which diffuse readily through the 

 seed coverings differ in some essential manner from solutions of nondiffusible 

 solutes. An explanation is offered in which it is stated that "^ome unrecog- 

 nized peculiarity in the manner in which the molecules of the two classes of 

 solutes are combined with the molecules of the solvent water may constitute 

 the factor which orders their different behavior with respect to the seed cover- 

 ings." 



The origin of osmotic effects. II — Differential septs, H. E. Armstrong 

 {Proe. Roy. 8oc. [London], Scr. B, 81 {1909), No. B 5',6, pi). 9Jf-96).^A discus- 

 sion is given of the results described in the above paper, which are held to be 

 extraordinarily significant as affording the means of dividing substances into 

 two classes according to their diffusion through a membrane such as the outer- 

 covering of the seed of barley. The author says that " inasmuch as the barley 

 grain contains but a small amount of soluble crystalloids, the absorption of 

 water by the grain may be regarded as mainly conditioned by the extremely 

 minute granules of starch inclosed within it ; presumably these have great 

 attraction for certain molecules in the liquid and become coated superficially 

 therewith. From this point of view the method developed by Professor Brown 

 involves the study of a struggle for hydrone between a mass of fine particles of 

 solid and the solution of a substance present in the liquid state in solution in 

 water." 



The observations are believed to be the first of their kind. 



The utilization of saccharose by certain plants, M. Molliard {Bill. Soc. 

 Bot. France, 53 {1908), No. 8, pp. 636-639).— In previous experiments (E. S. R., 

 19, p. 932) the author found that cress did not appear to grow well in solutions 

 containing saccharose, although other cruciferous plants, especially radishes. 



