116 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. . . 



present was the root. In the stem it is often stronger in the bark than in the pith. 

 In the leaves oxidases are most commonly entirely wanting or present only in very 

 small quantities and are then generally localized along the veins. When present in 

 the flower these ferments are more abundant in the pistils than in the stamens. In 

 the stamens they occur chiefly in the filaments. In fruits they are most alnindant 

 in the pericarp, disappearing in the seed before maturity. In general the reaction is 

 strongest in those organs which change color rapidly on exposure to the air. In a 

 nnml)er of aipiatic plants examined (ixidases a])peare(l to be a])sent. 



Upon the occurrence and function of proteolytic enzyms in germinating 

 seeds, AV. Butkewitsch {Zhur. Opuit. Agron., 1 (1900), No. 3, pp. 2S3-255; Bn-. 

 Deul. Bot. GeselL, 18 {1900), No. 8, pp. 358-364). — The author reports studies on the 

 germinated and unsprouted seeds oi Vicia faba, Ricinus major, Lupinus luteus, and 

 L. cmgudifolms. To ascertain the presence of proteolytic enzyms the seeds were 

 dried and pulverized in a mortar, after which they were treated ^^•ith ether for 2 or 

 3 days, and the extract kept in an Erlenmeyer flask in a thermostat for some time, 

 and then examined. The treatment was considered fatal to all organisms and 

 destructive of living protoplasm; yet in every case examined a change in the albu- 

 minoid matter had taken place, with a formation of amid compounds. The enzyni 

 present agreed closely with the trypsin of animal organisms, as has already been 

 reported by Green. The shoots of Luphncs luteus and unsprouted seed of L. angusti- 

 folius were found to contain a body very similar to zymogen. The proteolytic enzym 

 in the seeds, according to the author's experiments, showed sufficient activity to 

 transform all the protein reserve material contained in the seeds. A detailed report 

 of the author's investigations is published in Ztschr. Physiol. CJiein., 32 (1901), No. 

 1-2, pp. 1-53. 



Ferment of seeds with horny endosperm, E. Bourquelot and H. Herissey 

 {('ompf. Rend. Amd. Sri. J'ari.% 130 {1900), No. 11, pp. 731-733).— The authors 

 regar<l the seed of carob as the type of seed with a hoi-ny endosperm coni posed for 

 the greater part of inannan and galactan. During germination the embryo secretes 

 a soluble ferment which hydrolyzes the carbohydrates of the endosperm, producing 

 mannose and galactose. Similar results are obtained with fenugreek and alfalfa. 

 The action of these soluble ferments is comparable to that of dilute sulphuric acid. 

 The ferment obtained from these 2 plants, which appears to be distinct from that 

 found in the carol), is called seminase. 



The presence of seminase in seeds having a horny endosperm, E. Bour- 

 quelot and H. Herissey {('ontpt. Rend. Acud. Sri. l'((riit, l.il (I Hi)))), No. 2:2, pp. 

 903-905). — Examination was made by the authors of the seed of alfalfa and indigo, 

 with the result that they found present a small quantity of a soluble ferment, semi- 

 nase, capable of liquefving the horny endosperm and transforming it to a form of 

 sugar capable of being assimilated. 



Cacao fermentation, A. Preyer {Tropenptlanzer, 5 {1901), No. 4, PP- 157-173, 

 figs. 4)- — The process of fermentation of cacao is described, and the author claims to 

 have isolated an organism which is concerned in the fermentation, to which the 

 name Sarrliaromiires Iheohroinx is given. It is described and the results of experi- 

 ments with pure cultures stated. A modifled method of cacao fermentation is 

 described at some length. 



Diastases and their uses, C. Pozzi-Escot {Lcs di((stas('s ct lenrs itpplirnlioxs. 

 Encijclopedie-srientifiijiii' dm <iideinrinoire. I'aris: (hmtliier-Villars, 1901, pp. 219). 



A proteolytic and a protein-coagulating enzym in germinating barley, F. 

 Weis {Ztsrhr. Physiol. Chew., 31 {1900), No. 1-2, pp. 79-97). 



The formation of solanin in potatoes as a result of bacterial action, \i. 

 Weil (l'h<inii. Zig., 1900, No. 93, p. 9oi). 



A diastatic enzym in the potato plant, A. Mevkr (Jour. Loiidir., ^s (1900), 

 No. 1, pp. 07-70). 



