564 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Viewed in the li^lit of these cross-breeds or hybrids it may be con- 

 sidered (1) that maize is generically and specitically a distinct plant; 

 (2) that it owes its origin to a crossing of teosinte, as one of the parents, 

 with pollen of an extirpated closely related grass, and that the progeny 

 of this cross by variation under cultivation produces ears of considera- 

 ble size with kernels of great nutritive value, or (3) that it is a result 

 of a cross between teosinte and a race or variety of that plant i)roduced 

 by successful cultivation of the wild plant until its characteristics as a 

 variety or race have become fixed. 



The author thinks that if we consider Indian corn to have arisen as 

 a cross-breed or hybrid, the appearance of many of the teratological 

 forms frequently found in cultivation will be explained. In conclusion, 

 it is thought that the wild ancestor of maize is teosinte; but if this 

 view is not accepted, the fact that the two plants may be crossed and 

 produce fertile progeny shows that they are united by very close 

 relatipnshii). 



In a supplemental note ^ the author states ihat W. Trelease reports 

 corn smut, which is commonly believed to confine its attacks to maize, 

 as growing parasitically on teosinte. 



Influence of nitrogen on root formation, H. Muller-Thurciau 

 {Jahresher. Vers. iSta. WiidensH-eil, 4^ pp. 48-52; ahs. in Bot. Gentbl., 68 

 (1896)^ No. 9, p. 298). — The author reports upon a series of experiments 

 on the effect of nitrogen on the secondary roots of common vetch, red 

 clover, grapes, maize, sunflower, gDurds, beans, alfalfa, and Lathyrus 

 superbus. The ijlantlets were grown for a short time in distilled water, 

 after which 2 of each kind were placed in vessels. One was fed with 

 a normal nutrient solution, while the other was given the same solution 

 except that there was no nitrogen present. 



In every experiment the effect of the nitrogen was the same. In the 

 solutions containing nitrogen the secondary roots made a more vigorous 

 growth and were much more abundant. There also appears to be a 

 direct and an indirect influence of the nitrogen supply. All the grow- 

 ing parts while richer in nitrogen are able to form more protein and 

 the root system being more developed conveys more material to the 

 other parts of the plants. The author believes his experiments show 

 the ability of roots to form albuminoids. 



The role of bacteria in the nutrition of insectivorous plants, 

 N. TiSCHUKiN {Acta. Hort. Fctropol, 12; ahs. in Bcv. Mycol, 19 (1897), 

 No. 73, pp. 18, 19). — The author believes that bacteria play a very impor- 

 tant part in the digestion of albuminoid substances in these plants. 



His conclusions are as follows: Albumin is not dissolved by the plant 

 juices in the especially differentiated receptacles, but by the microor- 

 ganisms, principally bacteria, abounding in the liquids. These organ- 

 isms are always found present in the normally developed plant juices of 

 the insectivorous plants. The dissolution of albumin begins only when 

 the microorganisms are sufficiently developed and abundant. 



' Garden and Forest, 10 (1897), No. 467, p. 48. 



