832 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



increasing anionnts of tlie different compounds were tested on fish, germinated 

 seeds of peas, wheat, and rape, A8pci-{/illii.'< ii'ujcr, yeasts, and various soluble 

 ferments, such as diastase, emulsin, etc. 



The toxicity of the different compounds varied slightly on the different groups 

 of subjects, but in general occurred in the following diminishing order: Zirco- 

 nium, thorium, aluminium, chromium, cerium, lanthanum, and magnesium. 

 Zirconium, thorium, aluminium and chromium were found strongly poisonous, 

 the degree depending on the acidity of their solutions, while cerium, lanthanmn, 

 and magnesium are said to be variable in their poisonous action, often being 

 almost wholly noninjurlous. 



Seed and soil inoculation, W. B. Bottomley {Gard. Chron., 3. ser., Ji2 {1901), 

 Nos. 1093, pp. 385, 386, figs. 3; 109-'f, p. .'iJd: 1095, p. Ji30, figs. 3).— The author, 

 after describing the symbiosis occurring between bacteria and various legumi- 

 nous plants, calls attention to the beneficial effect in the increased yield of 

 crop and the increase in fertility of the soil due to the presence of these organ- 

 isms. He also gives the results of a series of experiments in which crops other 

 than leguminous ones were grown imder the infiuence of bacterial cultures. 



It is stated that it was found possible to cultivate a special race of nitrogen- 

 fixing bacteria in tomato-root extract and prepare therefrom a culture solution 

 which when sprinkled on the roots of tomato seedlings caused them to grow 

 much more vigorously, and that the inoculated plants were the only ones to 

 ripen their fruits. Strawberries similarly treated produced 45 per cent more 

 fruit and the fruit ripened 10 days earlier than with noninoculated plants. 

 The experiments with wheat and barley are also said to be promising, but these 

 are not yet reported upon. 



Results of soil inoculation (Countri/ Life [London], 22 (1907), No. 557, pp. 

 358, 359). — The results of practical tests in different localities of cultures pre- 

 pared by Professor Bottondey are summarized. 



On the influence of nectaries and other sug'ar-containing tissues in the 

 flower on the opening of the anthers, W. Burck {K. Akad. Wetensch. Amster- 

 dam, Proc. Sect. Sci., 9 (1906), pt. 1, pp. 390-3.96).— Attention is called to the 

 fact that the opening of the anthers in many flowers is preceded by a very 

 considerable loss of water, and that with many plants this opening takes place 

 within a closed tiower and the loss can not be caused by trausi)iration. The 

 observation of this fact gave rise to the question whether perhaps the nectaries 

 or other sugar-containing tissues in the flower have an influence on the 

 withdrawal of water from the anthers. 



A large number of flowers were examined under varying conditions and the 

 experiments indicate that the water is withdi'awn from the anthers by the 

 osmotic action, having its origin in the glucose-containing tissues. This en- 

 ables the stamens to bring their pollen to the surface at the right time, in- 

 dependent of the hygroscopic conditions of the air. 



On the formation of flowers after frost, G. Daikuhara (Bnl. Imp. Cent. 

 Agr. Expt. Sta. Japan, 1 (1907), No. 2, pp. 1-6, pis. 3). — The author reports 

 observing injury to mulberry trees by severe frosts early in May, and that 

 following the destruction of the leaf buds, panicles containing flowers appeared 

 in abundance. Attention is called to a statement of Loew that a certain 

 concentration of sugar in the plant juice is a necessary condition for flower 

 formation, and the author offers this as an explanation for the abundance 

 of flowers following frosts. It api)ears that the development of young leaves 

 had drawn considerably on the stock of reserve protein in the neighboring 

 parts of the bark, resulting in a solution richer in sugar, and the dry weather 

 before and after frost favored the flower formation by a further concentration 

 of the cell sap. 



