BOTANY. 725 



Some considerations upon the functions of stomata, C. E. 

 Bessey (Science, n. se>\, 7 (1898), No. 158, pp. 13-10). — This paper was 

 read before Section K of the British Association for the Advancement 

 of Science, August, 1897. The author's conclusions are as follows: 



"(1) One of the functions of stomata is the admission of carbon dioxid to the 

 chlorophyll-hearing tissues of the plant, for use in the formation of the carbohydrates. 



"(2) The loss of water by terrestrial plants was originally hurtful, and is so now 

 in many cases. 



" (3) If plants have utilized this constant phenomenon it is for the supply of food 

 matters of secondary importance, as the salts in solution in the water of the soil." 



On the formation of fats in seeds and fruits, C. Gerber (Compt. 

 Bend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 125 (1897), No. 19, pp. 732-735). — The author, 

 from his experiments with olives, castor beans, peach and sweet-almond 

 pits, concludes, with Miintz and Leclerc du Sablon, that the oils are 

 formed in the seed or fruit from the carbohydrates present, particularly 

 from the glucoses. In this he differs with Mesnard, who holds that only 

 the chlorophyll-bearing cells can form oils, which in turn are carried to 

 the reserve cells in the fruit or seed. 



Influence of various substances added to water cultures and 

 of oxygen on the formation of chlorophyll, W. Palladin (Compt. 

 Bend. Acad. Sri. Paris, 125 (1897), No. 21, pp. 827-829; also Rev. Gen. 

 Bot., 9 (1897), No. 107, pp. 385-394).— Etiolated plants of Vieia faba 

 and Phaseolus vulgaris, after being kept in the dark for 48 hours, were 

 brought into the light and various substances added to the water cul- 

 tures, the effect of such substances on chlorophyll production being 

 noted. The author states that chlorophyll formation was favored when 

 saccharose, raffinose, glucose, fructose, maltose, glycerin, galactose, 

 lactose, and dextrose were added to the culture media. Inulin and 

 tyrosin seemed without any appreciable effect, while chlorophyll pro- 

 duction was checked by manuite, dulcite, asparagin, urea, alcohol, 

 ammonium chlorid, and quinic acid. 



Experiments in which the effect of lack of oxygen was noted show 

 that during the formation of chlorophyll it is necessary that more oxy- 

 gen be given the plants than the amount which they evolve through 

 respiration. 



The details of the experiment are fully given in the second publication 

 noted. 



Plant growth with and without argon, T. Schlossing, Jr. ( Compt. 

 Bend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 125 (1897), No. 19, pp. 719-722).— The author 

 reports on a series of experiments conducted with oats and Holcus 

 lanatus grown in artificial atmosphere in which the argon content was 

 regulated. It was found that argou does not play any important role 

 in plant growth. 



Report upon preliminary experiments with the Rdntgen rays 

 on plants, G. F. Atkinson (Science,n. ser., 7 (1898), No. 158, pp. 7-13, 

 pi. 1). — The author reports 12 series of experiments to test the effect 

 of Eontgen rays on the growth of plants. A large number of phane- 



