BOTANY. 693 



tioii of beat causes tlie starch to swell; the liberated steam bursting' 

 the grain, exposes tlie white tlufty mass of swollen starch. In the case 

 of the nonpopping- corns, the endosperm is too thin and only splits to 

 liberate the steam. Aboriginal names are given for parched or vari- 

 ously prepared kinds of corn. 



Pentosans in plants, G. dk Chalmot (Amer. Chem. Jour., 10 {1894), 

 pp. 589-611). — The author found from 80 to 90 per cent of furfarol- 

 yielding compounds in barley sprouts germinating in darkness, and 

 se])arated from tliem a pentosan which yielded pentose on inversion. 

 His investigations indicated that these furfurol-yielding bodies belong to 

 the nitrogen -free extract, and are not derived from the cellulose, as sug- 

 gested by Cross and Bevan. It is claimed that the fact that cane sugar 

 interferes with the phloroglucol reaction explains the failure of these 

 investigators to find pentosans in barley sprouts grown in darkness. 



The author found that the amount of pentosans increased in germi- 

 nating corn with the advance of germination. The amount in peas first 

 increased, then decreased. Both in corn and in peas the amount in 

 the seeds proper decreased, and that in the stems and roots steadily 

 increased during germination. The increase of pentosans in the stems 

 and roots of peas (and clover) is, however, not nearly so i)ronounced as 

 that in the steins and roots of corn. 



The author holds that the pentosans in the roots and stems are not 

 derived from the seeds, but are formed from other plant constituents. 



The amount of pentosans in the germs is but slightly affected by the 

 l>resence or absence of light during germination. 



In connection with the discussion of this topic a table is given show- 

 ing ijercentages of pentosans found in seeds by the author and others. 



Extensive experiments showed that nitrates supplied to the germi- 

 nating corn increased the amount of pentosans dissolved from the 

 seed. At the same time the stems and roots were poorer in pentosans 

 Init richer in albuminoids, the influence of the nitrates in this respect 

 being \'ery pronounced. 



It was also observed that the pentosans of pine wood increased dur- 

 ing growth, a fact which is in accordance with results obtained with 

 all other growing parts of plants. 



The evidence supporting the author's hypothesis that pentosans are 

 not the result of the processes of assimilation but are formed from 

 hexoses is discussed in detail. 



Influence of drying on the respiration of tubers, J. F. Lund 

 {liev. gen. Bot., G {1894), No. 69, pp. 353-355). — The author has investi- 

 gated the tubers and fleshy roots of artichoke, onion, radish, potato, 

 and carrot. It was found that specimens ripened and kept over winter 

 decreased in their respiration with their decrease in weight due to des- 

 iccation. In the case of young tubers collected in April or May that 

 were formed during the season there was a slight increase in their 

 respiration following a slight loss of water. 



