330 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A review is given of the effects of different colored light on photosynthesis, and the 

 author describes experiments with bamboo leaves placed for a time under colored 

 screens which admitted different portions of light, and whose wave length was meas- 

 ured. As a result of all the experiments, which are reported at length, it is shown 

 that the effect of light rays on the leaf is in proportion to the absorptive energy of 

 the leaf and entirely independent of the part of the spectrum or of the wave length of 

 the light rays. 



The transformation of oil in seed during their germination, P. Maze ( Compt. 

 Rend. Acad. Sci. I'ar'n^, 134 {l'>02), No. 5, pp. S09-311). — Experiments are reported 

 on the germination of the seed of castor bean and peanut, in which the transforma- 

 tion of the oil contained in the seed is shown. The experiments are believed to show 

 that the increase in sugar and similar material which takes place during the germi- 

 nation of the seed is made at the expense of the oil. 



The growth of alfalfa in noncalcareous soils, P. P. Deheraix and E. 

 Demoussy [Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Parl.t, 134 {1903), No. 2, pp. 75-SO). — A report 

 is given of experiments with alfalfa which w^as grown in soil which contained little 

 or no lime. One sample of soil, which is designated as heath soil, contained a great 

 amount of organic matter while the other soil was disintegrated gneiss. Each soil 

 was free from carbonate of lime. The soils were placed in pots containing 3 kg. to 

 which 3 gm. of potassium phosphate was added. In addition, different pots received 

 varying amounts of carbonate of lime and some received an inoculation of garden soil. 

 The results of the experiments show that the organisms which produce tubercles on 

 the roots of the alfalfa were present in both soils. Their action was made more vig- 

 orous by the addition of lime. The inoculation with garden soil was followed with 

 favorable results in the case of the growing of alfalfa, as also proved true for the 

 growing of clovei'. 



The comparative resistance to high temperatures of the spores and myce- 

 lium of certain fungi, Abigail O'Brien {Bid. Torrey Bot. Club, 29 {1902), No. 3, 

 pp. 170-172). — The well-known fact that the spores of bacteria are more resistant to 

 heat than the vegetative cells has led to an investigation of the general belief that 

 the spores of fungi are better able to resist high temperatures than is the mycelium. 

 The author experimented with A.'^pergillus flavu.s, Botrytis vulgaris, Rhizopus nigricojis, 

 Sterigmafocystis nigra, and Penicillium glancinii. These were grown on beet cylinders 

 in test tubes and the mycelium was taken from the culture tubes within 2\ days after 

 the fungus began to grow. Tlie effect of temperatures of from 4.5 to 65° C. on the 

 spores and mycelium of this fungus is shown. It was found that the mycelium of 

 all the fungi, except Botrytis, gave vigorous fresh growth at 50° C. for exposures of 

 30 and 60 minutes. Both the spores and mycelium of Penicillium gave vigorous 

 grow^th at 55° C. The germination of spores did not always vary as to the length of 

 time of exposure. This is attributed to variation in the resistance of individual 

 spores. 



The digestion of mannane in the tubercles of orchids, H. Herissey {Vompt. 

 Rend. Acad. Sci. I'uri.-<, 134 {1902), No. 12, pp. 721-723). — ]\Iannane, which exists in 

 the pseudo-tubercles of many orchids, is said to be transformed into maimose under 

 the influence of soluble ferments. This transformation may take place in the tu1:)er- 

 cle itself when the material is used for the development of the new plant. It is 

 necessary to recognize, however, that the ferment is distinct from the reserve mate- 

 rial upon which it acts. 



The endophytic fungi of orchids, G. T. Grignan {Rev. Hort. \_Paris], 74 {1902), 

 No. 15, pp. 361-365). — A discussion is given of the relations existing between certain 

 fungi and some orchids, it having been claimed that a form of symbiosis existed 

 between them. The author is led to doubt the accuracy of this contention and shows 

 that the presence df tli(> \ arasitc is not necessary to the germination and growth of 

 the orchids. 



