FERMENTATION BACTEEIOLOGY. 743 



Report of the New York State botanist, C. H. Peck {Bid. New York State Mns., 

 10 {1901), No. 54, pp- 931-984, pi !f. 7). — Lists are given of the plants added to the 

 herbarium during the year covered by the report, together with notes on species 

 not hitherto reported as occurring within the State; also descriptions of new species 

 and remarks and oliservations on old species. A number of species of edible fungi 

 are described in detail, and illustrated by colored plates. 



Report of the botanist, F. M. B\ii.e^ {Queendand Ayr. Jour., 11 {1902), No. 6, pp. 

 401-403). — A summary is given of the activity of the botanist during the season 

 covered by the report, and particular attention called to the numerous requests for 

 the itlentification of suspected poisonous plants. On account of the prevailing 

 drought resulting in a scarcity of food, stock has browsed upon many plants which in 

 ordinary seasons would not have been touched. This has led to many suspected 

 cases of poisoning. In some instances the plants have been found of a poisonous 

 charactei", but the really injurious ones have been few in number. 



FERMENTATION BACTERIOLOGY. 



Bacteriological investigations of the Ames sewage-disposal plant, L. H. 

 Pammel {C'entbl. BoM. a. Bar., 2. AU., {1902), No. 3-4, pp. 89-107, ph. 3).— A 

 description is given of the sewage-disposal plant at Ames, Iowa, and of the results of 

 bacteriological studies. The number of bacteria per cul)ic centimeter is rejiorted for 

 the different months, and the daily variation is shown in tabular form. No attempt 

 was made to identify all si)ecies of bacteria found in the effluent, although BaciUus 

 liquefaciensJiuoresceHs and B. iiiutdbilis and several species of Sart-ina were found quite 

 commonly. Chemical analyses are rep(jrted of samples of water taken from time to 

 time, which tend to show the uniformly high efficiency which the iJant has attained, 

 particularly in the consumption of all)uminoid ammonia, etc. The bacteriological 

 results show that all but an insignificant part of the bacteria are removed by this 

 sewage-disposal plant, the degree of purification ranging from 99 to 99.55 per cent. 



Bacteriological studies at the Lawrence experiment station, S. DeM. Gage 

 {}f(i.-imcliii.s(ttti Slate Bd. Health Bjil. I'joi, jiji. 397-420). — A number of papers are 

 given in which changes are suggested in the methods for the eradication of BacUlus 

 coll in water, and a review given of B. eol'i studies, as well as on methods for the dif- 

 ferentiation of bacteria. A ijroposed system of classification of bacteria is described, 

 and technical descriptions given of a number of species of bai-teria which have been 

 isolated during the routine studies of the station. 



The penetration of plant tissues by bacteria, G. Ellkodt ( CeniU. BaJd. u. 

 Par., 2. Alt., 9 {1902), No. 17-18, pp. 639-64'^).— On account of the reputed possi- 

 bility of the transmission o bacterial diseases of man and animals through eating 

 uncooked vegetable matter that had been grown in inffested soils, the author studied 

 a number of plants in j)ots watered with exceptionally active cultures of Bacterium 

 pyocijaneum. Oats, beans, vetches, i)eas, violets, peonies, and iris were experimented 

 with. The plants were grown until well established, after which the bacterial cul- 

 tures were added to the soil. After a further period of growth the plant tissues were 

 examined for bacteria. Although the bacteria were found to grow in the soil, none 

 was found in the tissues of the plants experimented with so long as their roots 

 remained uninjured. This seems to indicate that at least this species of bacteria is 

 not able to penetrate the root tissues and thereby get into the above-ground parts of 

 plants. 



Assimilation of free nitrogen by bacteria, M. W. Beijerinck and A. van Delden 

 {Centhl. Bakt. a. Par., 2. AU., 9 (1902), No. 1-2, jop. 5-.^,:?).— Studies are reported on 

 the ability of a numl^er of bacteria to assimilate free atmospheric nitrogen, the 

 authors investigating various forms of Chroococcus in particular. These organisms 



