AIR WATER SOILS. 745 



The influence of external factors on the assimilation of yeasts, T. Bokorny 



{Centhl. Bakt. u. Far., 2. AbL, D{I90J), Nos. 1-2, -pp. 55-62; 3-4, 'PP- 117-126, fig. 1).— 

 The concentration of the culture medium, action of poisons like formalin, alkaloids, 

 etc., the presence of acids beyond a very weak concentration, and of alcohol in a 

 concentration of more than 5 per cent, were found to check the assimilative action 

 of yeasts. It was found that like green plants the variation of temperature played 

 an important part, the maximum assimilation taking place at 20 to 25° C, while at 

 40° it was checked and at 20° was nearly at the minimum. 



The Benikoji fungus, Y. Uyeda {Bot. Mag. \_Tokyo'\, 15 (1901), pp. 160-163; 16 

 {1902), pp. 79, pi. 1; ((/as. in Jour. Roy. Micros. Sac. {London'], 1902, No. 4, p. 466). — An 

 account is given of the fungus used in making a Chinese fermented drink known as 

 anchu from rice in Formosa. Several fungi were found to take part in the process, 

 but the chief agent of fermentation was said to be a siiecies of Monascus. In cultiva- 

 tion the fungus produces sporangia, wiiich become reddisli in color, surrounded by 

 an envelope of loose hyphic. The author believes the fungus is identical with 

 Monascus pnirpureus, and besides this fungus there were 2 forms of yeast present. The 

 yeast most frequently observed is believed to be nearly allied to Saccharorujfces 

 rnsaceus. 



AIR— WATER— SOILS. 



On the question of hydrogen in the atmosphere, Loud Ravleioh {Phil. Mag. 

 and Jour. Sri., 6.ser., 3 {1902), No. 16, pp. 416-422). — The results of sj^ectroscopic 

 observations and combustions with copper oxid are reported as a basis for the infer- 

 once "that the free hydrogen in country air does not exceed l/.30,000 of the volume." 



On atmospheric hydrogen, A. Leouc {Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 135 {1902), 

 Xo. 20, p>p. S60, S61). — The results obtained by the author by means of direct deter- 

 mination of oxygen and calculation from various equations confirm those of Lord 

 Kayleigh in indicating that the proportion of hydrogen in the atmosphere is much 

 smaller than is claimed by Gautier, who reports about 1 cc. in 5 liters. 



On the quantity of free hydrogen in the air and the density of atmospheric 

 nitrogen, A. Gautier {('omjif. Jutul. ^li-ad. Sci. Paris, 135 {1902), No. 23, jiji. 1025- 

 1032). — A reply to the statements of i^ord Rayleigh and Leduc, noted above. 



Researches on the blue color of the sky, (jt. Zettwuch {Phil. Mag. and Jour. 

 Sci., 6. ser., 4 {1902), No. 20, pp. 199-202). — This is an abstract of a thesis for the 

 doctor of science degi-ee of the University of Rome, which gives an historical review 

 of the sulaject, its present status, and an account of experimental researches on the 

 subject directed mainly toward the verification of Rayleigh's dynamical theory. 



The chemical and geological history of the atmosphere, J. Stevenson {Phil. 

 Mag. and Jour. Sci., 6. ser., 4 {1902), No. 22, 2^P- 435-451). — In a previous paper 

 (E. S. R., 12, p. 426) the author stated the reasons for believing that the primitive 

 atmosphere of the earth contained no free oxygen, but considerable quantities of 

 liydrogen or hydrocai'bon gases. The present paper discusses the extent and com- 

 position of the primitive atmosphere, the conclusion being "that the primitive 

 atmosphere was most probably a very extensive one, perhaps a hundred or several 

 Inmdred times greater in extent than our present atmosphere. It may have con- 

 sisted principally of carbonic acid, or it may have contained, either in addition to 

 or instead of carbonic acid, large quantities of hydrogen, hydrocarbon gases, and 

 carbonic oxid. At present our information regarding the data bearing on this ques- 

 tion is not definite enough to decide the point with certainty, l)ut we may reasonably 

 liope that sufficient evidence will sooner or later accumulate to give a fairly decisive 

 verdict." 



The climate and artesian waters of Australia, J. P. Thompson {Queensland 

 Geogr. Jour., n. ser., 17 {1902), No. 3, pp. 1-32). — The sources of meteorological data 



