646 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



was true to the parent form, whether infected or noninfected. Seeds from this 

 crop were planted, and both races seemed to thrive, the infested plants being on the 

 average slightly more vigorous. All observers who have investigated this subject 

 agree that the fungus exercises no noticeably injurious effect upon the host. The 

 nature of the fungus still remains unsolved. The author believes, however, that its 

 closest affinities are with the Ustilaginese. All attempts to infect plants from nonin- 

 fected seeds or to grow noninfected plants from infected seeds have failed, seeming 

 to indicate that there are two well-defined races of the different species which have 

 been under observation, one with and the other without the fungus symbiont. 



Mycorrhiza and its role in the nutrition of forest trees, P. Jaccard {Jour. 

 Forest. Suisse, 1904, No. 2-3, pp. 30, figs. JO; abs. in Bot. CentbL, 96 (1904), No. 27, p. 

 10). — A critical review is given of the subject of Mycorrhiza and its influence on 

 nitrogen nutrition of forest trees. A bibliography is given of the principal works 

 relating to this subject. 



Electricity in agriculture, E. GuarinI (U Electriciti agricole. Paris: IAbrairie 

 Fischbacher, 1904, pp- VILI-\~162, figs. 60). — This book gives a resume of recent 

 investigations on the effect of electricity on seeds and the use of electricity in electro- 

 culture, describing the direct and indirect influence on plant growth and the various 

 methods for utilizing atmospheric, static, and dynamic electricity. In addition, 

 chapters are given on the effect of electric light and on the use of electricity for the 

 destruction of insects. The use of electric power for agricultural machines and in 

 various industries is described, as well as the use of electricity in wine and alcohol 

 making, the purification of sugar, etc. 



Electricity in agriculture and horticulture, S. Lemstrom (London: "The 

 Electrician'" Printing and Pub. Co., Ltd.; New York: The D. Van Nostrand Co., 1904, 

 pp. IV-\-72, figs. 10). — This book gives the results of a long study and numerous 

 experiments by the author, which had their beginning in investigations in the Polar 

 regions and were continued in more southern latitudes. They have led not only to 

 an increase of the harvest of every kind of plant which has come under treatment, 

 but also to a favorable change of their chemical compounds, such as an increase of 

 the digestible nitrogenous matter in seeds, of the sugar in sugar beets, and of the 

 sweetness in berries. Many of the investigations here reported have been noted 

 elsewhere (E. S. R., 14, pp. 352, 656). 



Electricity in agriculture (Rhodesian Agr. Jour., 2 (1904), No. 1, pp. 31, 32). — 

 This is a review of a treatise in which Prof. S. Lemstrom, of Helsingfors, summarizes 

 the results of investigations on the influence of electrical currents on the growth of 

 various crops, as follows: 



"(1) The real increase per cent due to electrical treatment has not yet been 

 exactly determined for the different vegetables which have been under experiment. 

 But we are approaching its smallest value in fixing it at 45 per cent for land of aver- 

 age fertility. (2) The better and more scientifically a field is cultivated and 

 manured, the greater is the increase per cent. On poor soil it is so small as to be 

 scarcely perceptible. (3) Some vegetables cannot endure the electrical treatment if 

 they are not watered, but then they will give very high percentage increases. Among 

 these are peas, carrots, and cabbage. (4) Electrical treatment when accompanied 

 by hot sunshine is damaging to most vegetables, probably to all; wherefore, if 

 favorable results are aimed at, the treatment must be interrupted in the middle 

 of hot and sunny days." 



The present status of the question of electroculture, K. K. Khodorovski 

 (Khozyain, 1903, Nos. 1-4; rev. in Zhur. Opuitn. Agron. [Russ. Jour. Expt. Landw.], 

 5 (1904), No. 3, p. 403). 



