848 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



very materially by the carbon dioxid which is given off by soils. It is easily demon- 

 strated that the carbon dioxid content of the air is greater near the surface of the 



soil than at a higher point, and low-growing plants are able to utilize this increased 

 supply. 



The variation in the rate of increase in the growth of plants, Miss M. 

 Stefanowska (Compt. Rend. Ann!. Sci. [Paris'], 138 {1904), No. 5, ]>p. 304-306; 139 

 (1904), No. 21, pp. 879-881, figs. 2). — The author has studied the rate of increase in 

 weight during the growth of maize, peas, and oats in water cultures, radishes, lettuce, 

 purslane, and oats in soil, and a number of molds in Raulin's solution. 



Curves are presented showing the rate and time of increase, and formulas are deduced 

 for estimating the rate and gain, in some cases a constant though varying increase 

 was shown, but in the case of Penicillium glaucum there was a rapid increase in rate 

 up to the time of fruiting, after which there was a sharp falling off that corresponded 

 closely with the age of the cultures. 



The effect of colored light on the growth of plants, silkworms, etc., C. 

 Flammarion (BhI. Mens. off. Renseignements Ayr., 3 (1904), No. 10, pp. 1171-1179, 

 figs. 2). — In continuation of investigations previously reported ( E. S. R., 13, p. 576; 

 14, pp. 548, 553), the author gives the results of studies on the effect of different 

 colored light on the growth of begonias, sugar beets, pansies, stocks, silkworms, etc. 



The experiments with sugar beets showed a decided depreciation in the weight of 

 the beets grown under the different colored glass, and also a falling off in the sugar 

 content. Plants grown under while glass screens gave results most nearly compara- 

 ble with those grown in the open. These were followed by the plants grown in red, 

 green, and blue light, in the order named. With the silkworms the results were 

 inconclusive, but the red light seemed to favor their development. 



Notes are given on an attempt to grow strawberries under different colored ^lass, 

 the effect of electricity on the growth, sugar content, etc., of sugar beets, and the 

 results obtained with carrots, onions, black salsify, and beans planted during the 

 different phases of the moon. 



Influence of light on carotin and on the destruction of enzyms, F. A. F. C. 

 Went (Rec. Trur. Hot. Neerlandais, 1904, No. 1, pp. 100-119; abs. in Hot. Centbl., 96 

 (1904), No. 41, p- 380). — The orange coloring matter in Monilia sitophila is said to be 

 carotin, and it is formed oidy in the presence of light. The fungus grows readily in 

 the dark but remains colorless. Fifteen minutes exposure to light is sufficient to 

 start the formation of carotin. 



Investigations made by a number of authors have shown the abundant presence in 

 the fungus of an enzym, maltoglucase, which is rapidly destroyed in the light. The 

 author's experiments with the fungus showed that the orange yellow coloring mat- 

 ter served to protect the enzym against too rapid destruction, and it is argued that 

 the presence of carotin in some of the higher plants may be for the protection of the 

 enzyms which they contain. 



Viridescense and proliferation produced by parasites acting at a distance, 

 M. Molliard (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sri. [Paris'], 139 (1904), No. ..'.', pp. 930-98$).— 

 The author shows that a number of instances of green Mowers produced by white and 

 red clover and melilotus, and a peculiar fasciation of Senecio jacobcea, could be traced 

 to insect injuries, in nearly every instance the larvae being found present in the roots 

 or low in the stems of the affected plants. 



The solution of reserve material in the cell walls of seed during germina- 

 tion, A. R. Michniewicz, (Sitzber. K. Akad. Wiss. [Vienna], Math. Naturw. XL, 112 

 (1903), No. 4-7, pp. 483-510, pis. 2). — A report is given of investigations on the stor- 

 ing of reserve material in the cell walls of the endosperm of seed, and the utilization 

 of this material by the plant let during germination. The storing of reserve material 

 in the different parts of the cell walls was extensively observed, occurring in many 



