BOTANY. 717 



and it is probable, although the reaction was less striking, that manganese, magne- 

 sium, and aluminium are similarly taken up. The proportion of the metal fixed by 

 the cell walls is necessarily small, and increasing the strength of the solutions did 

 not augment the amount of the metal observed. The solubility of the various salts 

 did not seem to intliience the fixation, nor was the nature of the acid which entered 

 into the comj)ound of any importance. It was also found that metals already fixed 

 by the cell wall could l)e displaced by other metals when presented in solution. 



On tlie occurrence of organic iron compounds in plants, U. Suzuki {Bnl. 

 Col. A(/r. Imp. Uiiir. Tokyo, 4 {1901), No. 4, PP- '260-,.'66). — A series of experiments are 

 reported in which the form of iron occurring in plants was investigated. The seeds 

 and leaves of Polygonum tiridorium and Indigqfera tindoria are exeedingly rich in iron, 

 which exists as inorganic salts. Ether, alcohol, and aqueous extracts of the plants 

 showed no traces of iron, and sodium chlorid extracts gave but slight indications of 

 its presence. A dilute alkali extracted a nuclein-like substance which contains the 

 greater part of the iron of the original material. This may be precipitated and the 

 proteids digested, leaving the products containing the iron, which amounts to 0.5 to 

 1 per cent of the nuclein-like substance. Tests made to isolate the so-called hpema- 

 togen by the methods of Bunge and Stoklasa gave unsatisfactory results, and it is 

 believed that the greater part of the iron in cases under investigation existed in a 

 form different from h^ematogen. The iron compound which the author obtained 

 was partially soluble by artificial pepsin digestion, while hsematogen does not 

 undergo any change nor is it affected by dilute hydrochloric acid acting for a short 

 time. It is said that a similar iron compound exists in other plants and its distri- 

 bution seems very wide. 



On the distribution of zinc in plants, L. Laband [Ztscltr. Untcrsucli. Nahr. u. 

 Genus.^mtl. , 4 {1901), No. 11, pp. 4^9-492). — A compilation of the results of analyses 

 of a number of different plants, which show a wide distribution of zinc in different 

 parts of plants and in different kinds of plants. 



Contributions to the physiological knowledge of the tea plant, U. Suzuki 

 {Bui. Col. Agr. Imp. Univ. Tokyo, 4 {1901), No. 4, pp. 289-296) .—Studies are reported 

 on the occurrence of thein in different i)arts of the tea plant, the seeds, leaves, germi- 

 nating seedlings, etc., being studied. When in a dormant condition the seeds of the 

 tea plant contain no thein, nor do their proteids yield thein by the action of hydro- 

 chloric acid. The cotyledons of germinating seedlings contain it to a slight extent, 

 while stems and rof)ts contain a considerable amount, but the most is observed in the 

 leaves, its quantity being nearly proportionate to the development of the leaves. 

 Light seems to have no direct influence upon the formation of thein, since etiolated 

 shoots, a.s well as those grown in daylight contain it. It is believed that thein is not 

 a product of synthesis but of katabolism. Doubtful traces were observed in the 

 bark of the shrubs, but the dormant buds contain it in considerable quantity. 



On the localization of thein in tea leaves, U. Suzuki {Bui. Col. Agr. Imp. Univ. 

 Tokyo, 4 {1901), No. 4, pp. 297,-^98). — Studies are reported in which the attemjit is 

 made to localize the thein of tlie leaves. If a section of the leaf be left for 2 days in 

 a tannin solution a volumiiKjus precipitate consisting of minute globules was pro- 

 duced in the epidermal cells, while the other tissues of the leaves showed only a 

 slight turbidity. This pre(;ipitate consists of tannate of thein, as shown l)y its solu- 

 bility in dilute ammonia. This also affords an easy way of distinguishing the precipi- 

 tate from minute proteosomes, which solidify upon the absorption of ammonia, the 

 tannate of thein being dissolved by it. These investigations show, it is claimed, that 

 thein is localized in the epidermis of the tea leaves. 



On the role of oxidase in the preparation of commercial tea, K. Aso {Bui. 

 Col. Agr. Imp. Uiiir. Tokyo, 4 {1901), No. 4, PP- 235-:^r>9). — It is said that the first 

 operation in the preparation of green tea consists of steaming the fresh tea leaves 

 unmediately after their collection. This will preserve their color, while if exposed 



