228 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Chemical technology and analysis of oils, fats, and waxes, J. Lewkowitsch 

 i London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., 1904, ■>■ ed. enl., mis. /, pp. 427, figs. 53; ;, pp. 709, 

 figs. 35). 



On the new sedimentation apparatus devised by Vinassa for soil analysis, 

 with comparative experiments, C. Bortolottj (Slaz. Sper. Ayr. Ttal., 37 i 1904), 

 pp. 358-365; abs. in Chem. Cenlbl., 1904, LI, No. 7, p. r >li\. — Comparative tests of 

 this apparatus and that of Appiani, which is constructed <>n the same principle, gave 

 results favoring the new apparatus, especially as. regards saving of time and material. 



BOTANY. 



The influence of nutrition on the sex of dioecious plants, E. Laurent (Compt. 

 Rend. Acad. Sri. Paris, 137 {1903), No. 18, pp. 689-692; abs. in Bot. Cenlbl, 95 I 1904), 



No. I .', p. 297). — Experiments have been conducted for 7 years with spinach, hemp, 

 etc., to determine the influence of various fertilizers on the embryo of the plants. 



An excess of nitrogen or lime gave an increase in staminate plants, while potash 

 and phosphoric acid increased the number of pistillate ones. Seed produced with 

 an excess of nitrogen gave plants in which pistillate forms predominated, and among 

 those producing monoecious plants most of the flowers were pistillate. With an 

 excess of potash, phosphoric acid, and lime a contrary result was produced. 



The stimulating effect of some metallic salts on the growth of plants, M. 

 Kanda {Jour. Col. Sci. Iin/i. Univ. Tokyo, 19 {1904), Art. 13, pp.47; abs. in Bot. CentbL, 

 95 (1904), No. 20, p. 538)'. — Copper sulphate in very dilute solutions, which were 

 injurious when applied to pea seedlings in water cultures, when added to humus 

 soils proved not only not injurious to the plants, but exerted a stimulating influence 

 upon their growth. 



Zinc sulphate used in a similar way had the same effect. When used in a strength 

 of solution of 0.28 per cent, vetches, which were watered 3 times a week, were decid- 

 edly stimulated in their growth. Sodium chlorid, when used in strengths of 0.0002 

 to 0.002 per cent, was stimulating to plant growth, but when used as concentrated as 

 0.02 per cent it proved destructive. 



Native economic plants of the Transvaal, J. B. Davy {Transvaal Agr. Jour., 2 

 (1904), No. 7, pp. 278-313). — Notes are given on some of the economic plants which 

 are native and introduced in the Transvaal, attention being called to a number of 

 plants which are reputed as being poisonous, species of troublesome weeds, etc. 

 Brief notes are given on diseases of plants which have been observed, and suggestions 

 given for their prevention. An attempt is made to enumerate some of the more 

 abundant species of plants, giving their vernacular and botanical names. 



Commercial plants of Germany, F. W. Neger (Die Handelspflanzen Deutsch- 

 lands, Vienna and Leipzig: A. IlartJeben; rev. in Ztschr. Untersuch. Nahr. u. Genussmtl., 

 7 (1904), No. 10, p. 637). 



The role of alkaloids as a source of nitrogen for plants, L. Lutz, (Bnl. Soc. 

 Bot. France, 50 (1903), pp. 118-128; abs. in Bot. CentbL, 95 (1904), No. 11, pp. 278, 

 279). — Investigations by the author have shown that plants, and especially fungi, 

 when given various alkaloids could utilize them as sources of nitrogen, but a much 

 better growth of plant and greater assimilation of nitrogen resulted when an assimi- 

 lable form of nitrogen, such as ammoniacal nitrogen, was added to the culture media. 

 This phenomenon was explained by Clautriau as possibly due to the necessity of the 

 fungus making a considerable growth before it was able to utilize the alkaloid. 



To test this hypothesis experiments were conducted with various fungi in which 

 they were grown first in culture media containing a nitrogen salt, after which the 

 plants were transferred to a second solution, the only nitrogen of which was in an 

 alkaloid compound. 



In every case there was some nitrogen assimilatii >n from the alkaloidal solution, but 

 it was never as great as when the 2 forms of nitrogen were present. It is believed 



