1917] AGRICULTUEAL BOTANY. 731 



The distribution of reducing sugar in beets, H. Peulet {Bui. Assoc. Clam. 

 Sucr. et nistUL, S3 {1916), No. 7-9, pp. 161-169).— It is stated that the pro- 

 portiou of reducing sugars in beet root is nearly the same in the middle as in 

 the upper and lower portions, and iu the yellowed as in the normally colored 

 beets of the same field. How^ever, the proportion varies from time to time and 

 may be small in mature roots. 



Studies upon the maturity of grains, I, A. BlagovieshchenskiI (Blago- 

 \'ESCENSKij) {Isv. Imp. Akad. Nauk {Bui. Acad. Imp. Sci. Petrograd), 6. ser., 

 10 {1916), No. 6, pp. 42S-4S4, fig. 1). — This investigation deals with synthetic 

 reactions which take place in maturing seeds and ultimately lead to the forma- 

 tion of certain higher compounds, .such as proteins, starch, and cellulose. The 

 horse bean {Yici-a faba miiwr) w-as selected for these studies for the reason 

 that it contains approximately equal amounts of proteins and starch and very 

 little fat. The analyses of the contents were made at several different stages 

 of maturity, and the results are given in detail. 



The ash content showed an increase in absolute quantity and a decrease in 

 percentage. The same phenomenon was observed with the general amount of 

 nitrogen. Starch, on the contrary, steadily increased both absolutely and rela- 

 tively as the process of ripening advanced. The same changes occurred in the 

 amount of cellulose. 



It was noted also that similar synthetic reactions take place in the seeds 

 during their ripening under artificial conditions — that is, after they are sepa- 

 rated from the mother plant. 



[Report of the research assistant in plant physiology], R. P. Hibbaed 

 {Michigan Sta. Rpt. 1916, pp. 274-276). — In connection with his studies on the 

 absorption of solutes, with special reference to balanced solutions, the author 

 found in water cultures with wheat and peas that a solution containing only 

 potassium phosphate, calcium nitrate, and magnesium sulphate produced as 

 good results the first five weeks of growth as where additional salts were used. 

 The effect on photosynthesis in corn and cucumber plants of a nutrient solution 

 lacking a single element has also been studied, and it is claimed that the amount 

 of photosynthate in leaves can not always be taken as an indication of vigor. 



On the interpretation of the results of water culture experiments, W. 

 Stjxes {Ann. Bot. ILondon'l, SO {1916), No. 119, pp. 427-^36) .—Thx^ is mainly 

 a discussion of the differences between the results and conclusions arrived at 

 by the author in a previous contribution (E. S. R., 33, p. 223) and those offered 

 by Miss Brenchley (E. S. R., 35, p. 436). 



The effect of vanillin and salicylic aldehyde in culture solution and the 

 action of chemicals in altering their influence, J. J. Skinneb {Plant World, 

 19 {1916), No. 12, pp. S71-378, figs. 3).— In the experiments reported, the effect 

 of vanillin on the growth of cowpeas and on the absorption of nutrients from 

 the solution and the action of manganese in altering the effect of vanillin and 

 salicylic aldehyde were studied. 



In the first series of experiments, vanillin was shown to be detrimental to 

 the growth of cowpeas, and the absorption of salts was also less from the solu- 

 tions containing vanillin than from the controls without that compound. Con- 

 sidering all the cultures, the phosphate absorption w^as reduced 21 per cent, the 

 nitrate 10, and the potash 33. 



In studying the effect of manganese on vanillin and salicylic aldehyde, wheat 

 seedlings were employed. It was found that the harmful action of these sub- 

 stances was partially overcome by manganese, even when this was present in 

 small amount. 



Antagonism between manganese and iron in the growth of wheat, W. E. 

 ToTTiNGHAM and A. J. Beck {Plant World, 19 {1916), No. 12, pp. 359-370, figs. 



