The Physiological Action of Amido- 



sulphonic Acid. 



by 



Oscar Loew, Ph. D., Prof. 



College of Agriculture, Imperial University. 



Upon the suggestion of my colleague, Dr. Edward Divers, I have 

 made a series of physiological tests on plants with amidosulphonic acid 

 (amidosulphuric acid). This acid, in 0'05-OT per cent, solutions, 

 was applied in the form of its calcium or sodium salt, either alone or 

 in conjunction with mineral nutrient salts, viz. : monopotassium 

 phosphate, 0'05°/oî magnesium sulphate, 0*05 °/ ; calcium sulphate, 

 0'l°/ ; and a trace of ferrous sulphate. These solutions (500 cc.) 

 were applied to whole plants, or to branches and isolated leaves, of 

 different families of the phsenogams ; also to algae, lower fungi, and 

 lower aquatic animals. 



The principal result, in regard to phsenogams, was that amido- 

 sulphonic acid has, even in its salts, a decidedly noxious action upon 

 them, clearly established by control experiments, made at the same 

 time and upon similar organisms, kept in water and in solutions of 

 ammonium sulphate and sodium sulphate. Some of the experiments 

 were the following : — 



Young wheat plants, carefully taken from the field, 20-25 cm. 

 high, were placed in three vessels, containing each 500 cc. of (a) 

 common water; (b) 0T°/ solution of neutral ammonium sulphate ; (c) 

 0'l°/ solution of sodium amidosulphotiate. In (a) and (b) new rootlets 



