1917] AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 125 



use of commercial fertilizers in Ohio, and reports the results of actual and 

 guarantied analyses of 565 samples of fertilizers and fertilizing materials 

 offered for sale in Ohio during 1915. 



Analyses of commercial fertilizers, R. N. Bkackett et al. {South Carolina 

 Sta. Bui. 187 (1916), pp. 68). — This bulletin contains the results of actual and 

 guarantied analyses and valuations of 1.593 samples of fertilizers and fertiliz- 

 ing materials collected for inspection in South Carolina during 1915 and 1916 

 with the usual explanatory notes. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



Influence of certain carbohydrates on green plants, L. Knitdson (New TorJc 

 Cornell Sta. Mem. 9 {1916), pp. 5-75, figs. 11). — Experiments are described in 

 which a number of plants were cultivated in nutrient media to which various 

 forms of sugar were added, the plants being grown in plugged test tubes, cylin- 

 ders, or flasliS. 



Corn (Zea mays) was found able to absorb through its roots and to assimi- 

 late certain sugars, which resulted in increased growth of the plant. The 

 sugars in the order of their beneficial effect on the plants when grown in the 

 light were glucose and fructose, saccharose, and maltose. In tlie dark, glucose 

 gave the most beneficial results. 



With Canada field peas {Pisnm sativum), growth was found to respond 

 marliedly to the presence of sugars, the order of their beneficial influence being 

 saccharose, glucose, maltose, and lactose. Timothy was found to utilize glucose 

 and saccharose, but not lactose when grown in the light. With this plant 

 grown in the dark, all the sugars seem to be utilized. Experiments with 

 radish confirm earlier investigations, glucose, saccharose, maltose, and lactose 

 being utilized. Vetch {Vicia villosa) grown in the dark utilized the various 

 disaccharids. W^hen grown in the light, the order of the favorable influence of 

 the different sugars was saccharose, glucose, maltose, and lactose. Cabbage 

 grown in the presence of maltose showed increased growth, and the same was 

 true for sweet clover with increased concentrations of glucose or saccharose 

 and for crimson clover with maltose. 



Vetch plants showed increased growth with increase in concentration of 

 sugars, and these plants were found to absorb glucose from an extremely weak 

 solution. Certain forms of sugars were found toxic in various degrees, and 

 antagonistic actions were observed between different forms of sugars. 



In connection with the experiments with vetch, the respiration of the plants 

 was determined. It was found that saccharose and glucose were much alike 

 in their effect, while maltose produced a lessened evolution of carbon dioxid. 



An extensive bibliography is given. 



Studies on the formation and translocation of carbohydrates in plants 

 (Jour. Agr. 8ci. [England], 7 (1916), No. 3, pp. 255-384, figs. 18; abs. in Gard. 

 Chron., 3. ser., 59 (1916), No. 1526, p. 172).— This report in three parts, as indi- 

 cated below, of work done at Rothamsted Experimental Station, had for its 

 object to throw light on the fundamental problems of carbohydrate formation, 

 transfer, storage, transformation, and utilization. Credit for furnishing a 

 complete account of work done as late as 1893 is given to Brown and Morris 

 (E. S. R., 4, p. 984; 5, pp. 127, 344). 



I. The carbohydrates of the mangold leaf, W. A. Davis, A, J. Daish, and 

 G. C. Saicyer (pp. 2.55-326). — This section deals with a study of the formation 

 and translocation of the sugars in the mangold under actual conditions of 

 growth. Starch is said to be absent from the leaf after very early stages of 

 growth of the root. During all hours and at all stages, maltose is absent from 



