748 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



was placed in water to wliicli was added a quantity of clilorolbrm suf- 

 ficient to suspend the activity of the chlorophyll no gas was liberated, 

 even when the current was passed through the plant. 



The conclusions drawn from the experiments show that a continuous 

 electric current favors the assimilation of carbon in accelerating the 

 decomposition of carbon dioxid in aquatic plants. There is evidently 

 an optimum intensity of current beyond which the action of the elec- 

 tricity may become injurious, but this varies with the individual plant 

 and is not constant for a given species. 



Report of the botanist, F. L. Harvey {Maine Sfa. Rpt. 1895, pp. 

 89-H8). — A report is given of the more important investigations of the 

 year. A list of about 20 species of weeds is enumerated and all are 

 briefly described. Fungus diseases did but little harm during the year. 

 An account is given of the second blooming of some pear trees, and 

 various suggestions are offered as probable causes of this i)henomenon. 

 The cause in the particular case under consideration was insect attacks, 

 the foliage having been completely destroyed earlier in the season. 



Report of the botanical investigations for the year 1894-'95, Steffek and 

 Schumann {Jahrh. agr. cliem. Vers. Stat. Halle, 1895, pp. 93-97). — During the year 

 there were made iu the botanical laboratory 3,286 examinations of all kinds. Of this 

 number 2,645 were seed tests, 591 were microscopical examinations of concentrated 

 feeding stuffs, and 50 were bacteriological investigations of water. Of the seed tests, 

 which increased over 600 samples from the previous year, 2,156 lots were beet seed, 

 an increase in the number of tests of this particular kind of seed of 1,037 samples 

 over the previous year. 



In the examination of feeding stuffs it was found that 37 per cent of the samples 

 were adulterated witli gypsum, sulphate of barium, or inferior feeding stuffs. As a 

 rule, the saniiiles of cotton-seed cake and meal were not adulterated. Of the samples 

 of peanut meal, 8.82 per cent were falsified; of rape cake, 40.5 per cent; of flaxseed 

 cake, 38.5 per cent; and of rye bran, 54.5 per cent of all samjiles were adulterated. 



Miscellaneous notes and descriptions of new species ( T. iS'. Dept. Agr., Divi- 

 sion of Agrostology Bui. 4, pp. 36-39, pis. 2). — Descriptions are given of Paspaluvt 

 scahriim Scrib., Ichanihiis lanceolatiia Scrib. & Smith, Triodia drinnmondii Scrib. & 

 Kearney, FAymna rohustus Scrib. & Smith, E. iidermedius Scrib. & Smith, and E. 

 angnsUts Trin., all of which are new except the last. The first 2 species are figured. 

 Notes are given on the genus Chcetochloa Scrib., a new name proposed in place of 

 Seturia Beauv., Chamaraphis Kuntze, and Ixopliorus Nash. 



The genus Ixophorus, F. LamsoN-Scribner ( ?7. S. Dept. Agr., Dirision of Agros- 

 tology Bui. 4, pp. 5-7, pis. :?). — The author discusses the synonymy of the genus 

 Ixophorus, which has been variously confused with Panicum and Setaria. He con- 

 eiders that Ixophorus can not include all the species of Setaria. A revision of tlie 

 genus is given iu which 2 species and 1 variety are included. 



On the structure and development of the fruit of Citrus vulgaris, M. Bier- 

 mann (Arch. Pharm., 335 (1897), No. l,pp. 19-'3S). 



The osmotic activity of the cell in its pharmacological and toxicological rela- 

 tions -with special reference to ammonia and alkaloids, E. Overton (Featschr. 

 Naturf. Ges. Zurich, 1S9G, II, pp. 383-406). 



Concerning the periodical movement of leaves of Mimosa pudica in a dark 

 room, L. .Jost (Bot. Ztg., 55 {1897), I, No. 2, pp. 17-48). 



Pathological hypertrophy of plant cells, M. Mali.iard {Per. gen. Bot., 9 {1897), 

 No. 98, pp. SS-44, pis, 2), — Notes are given upon the pathological effect of galls on 

 the plant cell. 



