632 EXPEEIMENT STATION BECOED. [Vol. 86 



The role of ammonia in the transformation of nitrogenous materia.1 in 

 plants, D. N. PeQnishnikov (Peianichnekov) (Is Rezul't. Veget. Opytov. Lab. 

 Rabot (Rec. Trav. Lab. Agron.), Moskov. Selsk. Khoz. Inst., 10 {1914), Sup. S, 

 pp. 24)- — According to the author, plants may be divided into three groups, de- 

 pending upon their utilization of ammonia. The first group, which is typified 

 by maize, barley, pumpkin, etc., is readily supported by ^^■eak solutions of am- 

 monium chlorid or ammonium sulphate, from which ammonia is readily ab- 

 sorbed and asparagin or glutenin formed. 



The second group of plants absorbs ajnmonia feebly or not at all. However, 

 on the addition of calcium carbonate, they take up ammonia rapidly and form 

 asparagin. Peas and vetches are given as typical of this group. 



In the last group, which is represented by Lupinus hitens, the introduction of 

 ammoniacal salts into the solutions produces a profound change vsdth the pro- 

 duction of ammonia arising from the nitrogenous materials in the seeds. The 

 addition of calcium carbonate doas not reestablish the normal course of nitrogen 

 transformation. The author attempts to explain, from his own or others' ex- 

 periments, this unusual behavior of the lupine toward ammonium salts. 



The formation of asparagin by Lupinus luteus, A. G. Nikolaeva (Nico- 

 laeva) (Iz Rezul't. Veget. Opytov Lab. Rabot {Rec. Trav. Lab. Agron.), Moskov. 

 Selsk. Khoz. Inst., 10 {1914), PP- 580-585 ) .—Experiments are described which 

 showed that etiolated plants of L. luteus behaved quite differently when am- 

 monium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, and urea were present in the solutions 

 from these plants when physiologically acid salts such as ammonium chlorid 

 and ammonium sulphate were present. In the first case, there was an active 

 formation of asparagin in proportion to the amount of ammonia absorbed, while 

 in the second case ammonia accumulated in the plants without giving rise to 

 the production of asparagin. Under the latter conditions, the phenomena of 

 ammonia poisoning of plants were apparent. 



The fixation of free nitrogen by certain fungi, C. O. Chambebs {Plant 

 World, 19 {1916), No. 7, pp. 175-194, fig. i ) .—Reporting studies by means of 

 what is designated as the Folin method with Aspergillus niger and PenidlUum 

 glaucum, the author states that these fungi did not apparently make use of free 

 nitrogen. This method is said to be very well adapted to work with very small 

 quantities of material and to the determination of very small amounts of 

 nitrogen. 



A new case of symbiosis between a baciUus and a plant, P. Geobgevitch 

 {Roy. Bot. Gard. Ki&v. Bui. Misc. Inform., No. 4 {1916), pp. 105, 106, figs. 21).— 

 In a preliminary note is described a case of symbiosis between a bacillus and 

 Kraussia floribunda cultivated in the Kew Gardens. A description is given of 

 the development, including spore formation, when transferred from nodules to 

 potato or potato agar. 



The assimilation of carbon diozid, R. Willstattbk and A. Stoll {Ber. 

 Deut. Chem. Oesell., 48 {1915), No. IS, pp. 1540-1564; abs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. 

 lLondon'\, 110 {1916), No. 639, I, pp. 105, 106).— In a preliminary study of car- 

 bon dioxid assimilation, the authors found that the relation of chlorophyll con- 

 tent to assimilatory activity is variable. The most marked cases in this respect 

 are those of leaves which are green in autumn, in which the assimilatory rate 

 is relatively low, those of yellow varieties poor in chlorophyll, and those re- 

 covering color after etiolation and possessing a high assimilatory capacity. 



A diminution in assimilatory activity as compared with chlorophyll content Is 

 observable during spring growth, and a comparable difference exists between 

 young and old leaves. These differences are ascribed to a factor supposedly 

 enzymatic in character. Leaves rich in chlorophyll show an assimilatory rate 

 almost independent of the degree of illumination, the influence of the chlorophyll 



