324 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



manganese carbonate as a stimulant to plant growth. The chemical was found 

 to exert a moderate stimulation on peas and less upon barley. 



In a second series of experiments with wheat comparisons were made between 

 manganese sulphate and sodium fluorid, and it was found that in addition to 

 the stimulating effect of both chemicals, manganese sulphate produced much 

 better results than sodium fluorid. 



The physiological role of phosphoric acid in the nutrition of plants, 

 Gabeielle Balica-Iwanowska {Bill. Acad. Sci. Cracovie, 1906, irp. 616-6-^2; 

 ahs. in Jour. Cliem. Soc. [London], 92 {1901), No. 535, II, p. 386).— In plants 

 germinating in a liquid free from phosphoric acid an increase of mineral phos- 

 phorus was found to take place at the expense of organic phosphorus com- 

 pounds. The phosphorus thus separated from the organic compounds is not 

 utilized for the reproduction of organic phosphorus compounds when no furtlier 

 amount of phosphates is supplied. When plants are deprived of phosphoric 

 acid a portion of the organic phosphorus compounds formed previously in the 

 plant is decomposed, as in the case of the germinating seeds. 



Under normal conditions barley plants transform relatively small amounts of 

 phosphates into organic compounds up to the time of flowering, the change being 

 chiefly made during the production of seed. At this period the nucleo-proteins 

 migrate toward the grain, and during ripening a portion of the phytin separates 

 from the protein compounds. 



The effect of acids and alkalis on chlorophyll, R. Willstatter and F. 

 HocHEDER {LiehUfs Ann. Cliem., 357/ {1907), No. 2, pp. 205-258, fig. i).— While 

 there have been many studies made on the effect of the alkalis and acids on 

 chlorophyll, the authors claim that none show the changes in structure and 

 composition of the chlorophyll molecule. According to them, chlorophyll is a 

 very complex magnesium compound. 



The first effect of acids upon chloroi)hy^l is said to be the elimination of the 

 magnesium. The molecule of chlorophyll after reacting with the acid is an 

 ester without basic or acid proi)erties. The effect of alk:ilis on chlorophyll is 

 the saponification of the esters, an alcohol, C.,oIIj„0, being formed while the 

 magnesium in the molecule remains. The alcohol formed is called " phytol " 

 and is said to be present in the chlorophyll of all plants. 



The ascent of water in trees, A. J. Ewart {Proc. Roy. Hoc. [London], Ser. B, 

 79 {1907), iN'o. B 533, pp. 395, 396). — An abstract is given of a paper presented 

 by the author in Avhich he offers evidence to show that the ascent of water in 

 trees is a vital problem depending upon conditions which can only be main- 

 tained in living wood. He concludes that the living cells in tall trees con- 

 tinually restore the conditions for the ascent of water wherever these are 

 affected by the excessive emptying of the vessels, and decrease resistance to 

 flow, as far as possible, by maintaining continuous water columns in portions 

 of the wood. So long as these conditions are present a pumping action only 

 becomes necessary in trees over 20 to 50 meters in height, but suspended col- 

 umns can not be maintained for any length of time in the vessels of tall trees 

 without the aid of the living cells of the wood. 



The nature of enzyms, H. E. and E. F. Armstrong {Proc. Roy. Soc. [London], 

 Scr. B, 79 {1907). Xo. B 533, pp. 360-365). — The authors summarize some of 

 the more important views relating to enzyms and call attention to some of the 

 principal issues which remain to be determined. According to their view, the 

 action which an enzym exercises is specific; that is, it is limited to compounds 

 of a particular type to a greater extent than has hitherto been recognized. 



The enzyms of yeast, amygdalase, R. J. Caldwell and S. L. Courtauld 

 (Proc. Roy. Soc. [London], Ser. B, 79 {1907), No. B 533, pp. 350-359).— In a 

 study of the enzyms of yeast the authors have separated a new enzym to which 



