BOTANY. 133 



T<ii. Landw. AbL, A'. Vers. Stat. Pflanzenkult., Dresden, 1903, p. 4). — Experiments with 

 serradella on inoculated and uninoculatecl soil are reported, which show that runt 

 tubercles developed in the uninoculated soil, although the nodules were apparently 



larger and more numerous in the inoculated soil and the yield was also somewhat 

 larger. 



Experiments on the effect of copper sulphate in the soil on plant growth, 

 Steglich {Her. Tat. Landw. AbL, K. Vers. Stat. Pflanzenkult., Dresden, 1903, p. 4).— 

 Copper sulphate was applied to soils in pots two years in succession, at rates of 40, 

 80, and 160 gin. per square meter of surface, without injurious effects on fruit trees 

 and strawberries. Injury resulted, however, when like amounts were applied in the 

 held to potatoes, beans, etc. 



Two types of intramolecular respiration of higher plants, A. I. Nabokikh 

 [Zhur. Opuitn. Agron. [Jour. E.vpl. Landw.'], 4 ( 1903), No. 6, pp. 696-713) .— The exper- 

 iments of the author lead him to distinguish two types of intramolecular respiration 

 of higher plants, i. e., typical alcoholic fermentation, and alcoholic fermentation 

 of glucose with the decomposition of organic acids. The typical alcoholic fermen- 

 tation is shown in experiments with glucose, experiments of long duration in water, 

 and, probably, the cultures in mannite of long duration. 



In these series of cultures the ratio between carbon dioxid and alcohol was 

 observed to closely correspond to that of alcoholic fermentation. In the combina- 

 tion of alcoholic fermentation of glucose with the decomposition of organic acids, the 

 most striking examples were observed in experiments with weak solutions of lactic 

 acid. It was found that during the entire time of the experiment a comparatively 

 large quantity of acid was lost, while at the same time the amount of alcohol was 

 found to be 12 to 35° lower than is characteristic for the alcoholic fermentation. 



A series of parallel experiments in water and peptone showed that the latter, like 

 glucose, is capable of considerably increasing the energy of the intramolecular respi- 

 ration of peas. The alcoholic coefficient is here close to the normal for alcoholic 

 fermentation, averaging 102 instead of 104.5. The author thinks, however, that 

 peptone acts on the fermentation indirectly increasing the activity of the ferments 

 which convert starch into sugar and decompose sugar into alcohol and carbon dioxid. 



The experiments in a 1 per cent solution of asparagin gave correspondingly low 

 values for the alcoholic coefficient, 95.1 in the mean. 



In 2 series of experiments in solutions of saltpetre, one lasting 7 days and the other 

 14 days, it was found that in those of shorter duration the yield of alcohol was so 

 high that it was impossible to suppose that any appreciable amount of alcohol was 

 oxidized by the oxygen set free in the process of reduction of the saltpetre by the 

 seed. In the longer experiments the alcohol decreased in amount and nitrogen was 

 set free, corroborating the views of Stoklasa and others. 



The experiments referred to were all made with peas (Pimm sativum). The intra- 

 molecular respiration of castor beans was found to be very weak for all the solutions 

 tested. — P. FIREMAN. 



On the nature of the middle lamella, II. Devacx {Mem. Sue. Sri. Phys. ei Nat. 

 Bordeaux, 6. ser., 3 (1003), pp. 89-120). — After reviewing some of the numerous 

 opinions regarding the constitution of the middle lamella occurring in plants, an 

 account is given of micro-chemical studies of a considerable number of species of 

 plants representing widely separated genera and families. The methods of exami- 

 nation and technique of the specimens are described at length. 



The author concludes that from the reactions observed the middle lamella in the 

 softer tissues of plants is not composed of pectate of lime but of pectose, and, con- 

 trary to the opinion of many chemists, pectose, at least that occurring in the middle 

 lamella, is readily attacked by either hot or cold, dilute or strong, alcoholic or 

 aqueous acids. In this action an intermediate body between pectin and pectose is 

 formed. 



