BOTANY. 



527 



howt'ver, is sul»jei'( to a inimhcr of exwptions, and the small development of woody 

 tissues does not necessarily imply a hij,di sugar content. The attacks of various 

 fungi upon the roots liavc Ih-cd sliown to intinence the development of the woody- 

 axis of the root and also to diminish the sugar content. While not an invariable 

 rule, the occurrence of a i)oorly developed woody area, as shown by a section of the 

 top of the beet, may be utili/iMJ in the selection of beets for propagation and breeding 

 purposes. 



On the reserve carbohydrates in Arrhenatherum elatius, V. Harlay ( Compt. 

 Rend. Acad. Sci. I'((rl.'<, LI.' [J90I), Xu. 7, pp. 4Jo-4-''J).—X study is reported of the 

 reserve carbohydrates found in the enlargements which occur between the lower 

 nodes in the variety bnlbo.vun of tall oat grass. The author dried and macerated 200 

 gm. of these tubercles with a solution of acetate of lead, after which it was filtered, 

 the lead eliminated by oxalic acid, and the filtrate precipitated. The character of 

 the filtrate is described at some length, from which it appears that in its properties 

 it is quite similar if not identical with graminin and phlein. A special study was 

 made of the action of different hydrolyzing agents upon the graminin from the plant 

 under investigation, and it was found that in the presence of saliva and diastase it 

 remained unaltered. The ferments secreted by J. s;j(T(/;7/«.'{ ?**(/«•, which hydrolyzes 

 inulin, also hydrolyze graminin. This substance is found in considerable abundance 

 in the tubercles of this grass, md is accompanied by reducing sugars. The character 

 of the substance shows that it is undoubtedly of the same nature as levulose. 



Investig-ations on the respiration of olives and the relation between the 

 respiratory quotient and the formation of oil in the fruit, C. (iEHUKR {Jour. 

 Bot. {Pari.i\, 15 {1901), Xo. 1, pp. 9-:^^).— The author has found that the respiratory 

 quotient of olives increases with the growth of the fruit up to a maximum, which is 

 reached about the time the color begins to rapidly change. This increase is due to 

 the transformation of mannite to oil, which takes place in the fruit. If the fruit 

 remains attached to the tree the leaves continue to elaborate the mannite during the 

 ripening process, and this is transferred to the fruit so that the oil content of the fruit 

 may be in excess of the amount of mannite present in the fruit. As the oil increases 

 the mannite necessarily diminishes, and when the fruit has become a violet or purple 

 color mannite disappears entirely. 



The effect of smoke and gas upon vegetation, W. A. Buckhout {Pennsylvania 

 IJejd. Agr. Bpf. 1900, pi. /, pp. 1(!4-192, ph. 4). — The author popularly reviews some 

 of the literature on the injurious effect of smoke and gas upon vegetation, particularly 

 the publications of Schroeder and Reuss. He studied the extent of injury to the 

 agricultural and forestry interests of Pennsylvania by pollution of the atmosphere in 

 cokeing and other manufacturing operations, visiting a number of manufacturing 

 centers and noting the condition of vegetation in their immediate vicinity. The 

 injurious effect of the gases, smoke, and soot is shown in the destruction of forests 

 and orchards in the vicinity of these manufacturing establishments. The author 

 collected specimens of leaves in the vicinity of a number of coke ovens and iron 

 furnaces and at chemical works, and determined the amount of sulphuric acid and 

 chlorin in the dry substance, comparisons being made with the same kind of leaves 

 collected in a region far from the injurious effect of such agencies. An analysis of 

 white oak leaves, taken about three-quarters of a mile from a large range of coke 

 ovens, showed 3.6 parts of sulphuric acid per 1,000 of water-free substance, as com- 

 pared to 1.9 parts in similar leaves taken from the vicinity of the State college. 

 Apple leaves from the vicinity of the same coke ovens gave in 1,000 parts of water- 

 free substance 12.3 parts sulphuric acid and 2.7 parts chlorin. Leaves taken from 

 the vicinity of large chemical works gave 6.4 parts sulphuric acid and 3.6 per cent 

 chlorin, while leaves collec^ted at the State college gave but 1.7 i)arts sulphuric acid 

 and but a trace of chlorin. The author gives suggestions as to the prevention of 



