228 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The role of light in the formation of proteids in plants, W. Zaleski {Ber. 

 Deut. Bot. GeselL, 27 {1909), No. 2, pp. 56-(J2). — Experiments with a consider- 

 able number of plants in normal and colored light indicate that when there is 

 an abundant supply of carbohydrates present light has little effect on the for- 

 mation of protein in plants. With shoots of Windsor beans it had an indirect 

 influence in that a greater amount of dry matter was produced by the plants in 

 the ligbt, and consequently an actual increase in the total nitrogen, although 

 the relative proportions were but slightly changed. 



On the transformation of starch in plants, W. Butkewitsch {Biochem. 

 Ztschr., 10 (1908), No. .'/-6, pp. 31J,-.Wf}.—A study was made of the conversion 

 of starch in the twigs of Morns (iJba and Sophora japonica cut early in the 

 season. 



The conversion of starch was found to be favored by temperatures of 60 to 

 70° C. but ceased at 80°. Toluol, chloroform, and low temperatures retarded 

 starch conversion. An alcoholic precipitate was made from extracts of the 

 different plants, which showed the presence of very active diastatic enzyms. 



Biochemical researches on the development of anthocyanin in plants, R. 

 Combes {Cotiipt. Rend. Acad. Set. [I'aris], 1J,8 {1909), No. 12, pp. 790-792).— A 

 study was made of the leaves of Atiipelop.sis licderaceu, the red pigment of which 

 is developed in intense light; the leaves of Rosa canina, Maliotiia aquifoUum, 

 and Sorbiis latifolia, which take on a red color under the influence of early 

 frost in the autumn; and the leaves ot-Hpinra itiuiiciilatd. which develop antho- 

 cyanin as a result of the ringing of the bark. 



In the different individuals the sugars, glucosids, dextrins. and insoluble 

 carbohydrates of both red and green leaves were determined, and it was found 

 that an increase in the proportion of sugar and glucosids is concurrent with the 

 development of anthocyanin and is also accompanied by a diminution in the 

 quantity of dextrin. The insoluble carbohydrates behave in a somewhat dif- 

 ferent manner, depending on the conditions under which the reddening is 

 formed. When the production of anthocyanin is due to intense light or annular 

 decortication, the quantity of insoluble carbohydrates in the red leaves is much 

 greater than in the green leaves. 



In conclusion the author states that the development of anthocyanin in plants 

 appears to be associated closely with the accumulation of sugar and glucosids 

 and the diminution in the proportion of dextrin in the leaves. 



The relative toxicity of ferrous sulphate to barley and rye seedling's, 

 B. L. Haetwell and F. It. 1'ember (Rliole Island .S7«. Rpi. 190S, pp. 286-29Ji).— 

 The claim has been made that soluble ferrous salts in the soil are detrimental 

 to plant growth, and as other investigations have shown wide differences in the 

 effect of liming on the growth of barley and rye (E. S. R., 20, p. 126), the 

 authors carried on a series of water-culture experiments with those plants to 

 determine whether one kind of plant was more susceptible to injury by ferrous 

 sulphate than the other. 



Preliminary experiments were carried on with wheat seedlings which showed 

 that the transpii-ation and weight of the green seedlings decreased with each 

 successive increase in the amount of ferrous sulphate added to the solution. 

 Similar experiments were then carried on with barley and rye seedlings, the 

 relative transpiration and weight .of the plants being determined. 



So far as the experiments show, there appears to be no evidence to prove that 

 the effect of ferrous sulphate is markedly different with barley and rye seed- 

 lings. In this respect there is a marked contrast to the effect of lime in the 

 fields on these two cereals. 



On the use of lime nitrogen and copper sulphate for the destruction of 

 wild radish, L. Hiltner and F. Lang {Prakt. BI. Pflanzenhau u. Hchiitz, n. ser., 



