106 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



divisiou of the Exiierimeutal Farms of Canada during the past 8 years. The topics 

 treated are virgin soils of Canada, naturally-occurring fertilizers, fodders and farm 

 crops generally, the grasses of Canada, Indian corn, fruits and vegetables, and well 

 waters. 



Report of the official analyst of the Island of Jersey (Bap. Ann. Anal. Offic, 

 pp. 12). — This is for the year ending March 25, 1895, and includes brief reports on 

 examination of alcoholic liquors, butter, baking powder, and waters, and on the 

 inspection of waterworks. A table is given showing the fertilizing constituents 

 removed from the soil of the island in the exports of potatoes and milk, and restored 

 by the use of farm manure and artificial fertilizers. 



A new form of carbonic acid apparatus, C. H. Ckibb (Analyst, 21 (1896), p. 6?). 



A modified filter pump, G. Behle."\iont (Bui. Soc. Chhn. Paris, 15-16 (1S9G), No. 

 1.5, p. 917, pj. 1). 



An auto-pneumatic .stirrer, H. Beorley (Chem. Xews, 74 (189G), No. 1915, p. 63). 



A registering thermometer for casks and vats, Houdaille and Koos {Prog. 

 Agr. et Vit., S6 {1896), No. 30, pp. 99-102, fig. 1). 



BOTANY. 



The formation and use of the pentoses in plants and animals, 



GoiTZE and Pfeiffer {Landiv. Vers. Stat., 47 (ISIW), p. 59 ; ahs. in 

 Chem. Centhl., 1896, T, p. 967). — The pentoses are found in plants 

 from the time of their earUest growth, and their formation proceeds 

 proportionately with that of the cellulose. They can be used by the 

 j)lant as a reserve material similarly to the true carbohydrates when 

 the x>ossibility of ordinar}- assimilation is removed by the exclusion of 

 the light. The cereals or Graminea? are especially rich in pentoses, 

 while the Leguminosa' contain smaller quantities. 



The animal organism partially absorbs and partially expels the X)en- 

 toses. They seem to be intimately connected with the formation of 

 hippuric acid, as the consumption of large quantities of easily digesti- 

 ble pentose is always followed by the appearance of hippuric acid. — 



"W. H. KRUG. 



On the relation bet^veen calcium and the transportation of car- 

 bohydrate.=5 in plants, P. Groom {Ann. Bot., 10 {1896), JVo. 37, pp. 

 91-96). — A brief review is given of the investigations of Boehm, 

 Schimper, and others upon the role of calcium in plants, and experi- 

 ments ot the author are described in which it is shown that the evil 

 effect of a lack of calcium in a plant is due to the accumulation of 

 potassic oxalate. Schimi)er has shown that oxalic acid is a by-product 

 of the sjnithesis of proteids, and where there is no calcium present it 

 unites with potassium, forming a soluble oxalate, which acts as a 

 poison to plants. 



The author summarizes his results, showing that acid potassium 

 oxalate retards the action of diastase on starch. The i)resence of this 

 substance is first shown by an accumulation of starch, owing to the 

 arrest of its change into sugar. A second effect, as tbe oxalate accu- 

 mulates, is the retarding of starch formation and probably- the assimi- 

 lation of carbon. The death of the protoplasm is the ultimate result of 



