326 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



stated that the substance described as metachromatin in the higher plants is 

 not identical with the metachromatin of fungi but is a phenol compound trans- 

 formable directly into anthoeyanin. The presence of this phenol compound in 

 the vacuole of plant cells, far from being general, is confined to special tissues. 

 Mitochondria, on the contrary, exists in all cells. 



The salt content of a Kamerun plant, A. Lacroix {Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. 

 [Parts'], 166 (1918), No. 25, pp. 1018-1015).— Analysis of ash sent from Kame- 

 run and said to be used as a source of salt by natives in African regions lack- 

 ing salt deposits is stated to give results resembling those obtained from 

 analyses of the ash of Panicum crvs-galli. 



The injurious effect of magnesium carbonate on plants, H. Coupin (Compt. 

 Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris'], 166 (1918), No. 24, pp. 1006-1008).— Noting briefly the 

 the effects of magnesium carbonate (which, ordinarily insoluble in water, be- 

 comes sparingly soluble if a small proportion of carbon dioxid is present) on 

 a number of plants, the author states that a prejudicial effect on plants may be 

 shown by diminution of the length of the main ro<>t, by reduction in size and 

 number of the rootlet-, by a black or brown coloration of the branches and 

 rootlets, by a decrease in the number of absorbing root hairs, and by a les- 

 sened linear growth of the aerial portions. 



The influence of the vegetable function of yeast on alcoholic yield; a new 

 interpretation of fermentative capacity, L. Liniht {Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. 

 [Porta], 166 {1918), No. 22. pp. 910-913).— The author gives in tabular form 

 the results of studies on the problem of the conditions affecting alcohol pro- 

 duction by yeast, such as sugar concentration, temperature, origin, vigor, and 

 amount of the yeast present; and alimentary value of grape juice and of the 

 chemical medium employed. 



Measurements of growth in sugar cane, J. Kflian (Arch. Suikrrimlus. 

 lerland. IndiS, 26 (1918), No. 11, pp. 736-743. figs. 2).— A brief account is 

 given with graphical representation of records made by sugar cane between 

 July 10, 1915, and March 10. 1916, as regards Stooling and growth in connec- 

 tion with precipitation during a part of that period. 



Photosynthesis, W. Crocker {Bot. Gaz., 65 (1918), No. 6, pp. 568, 569).— This 

 is a summary, with critical comments, of several recent contributions or re- 

 views bearing upon photosynthesis, and more particularly upon heat and light 

 in that connection. 



Behavior of plants in un ventilated chambers, F. C. Nkwcomhe and Etta A. 

 Bowerman (Amcr. Jour. Bot., 5 (1918), No. 6, pp. 284-294). — The authors, re- 

 porting work with several economic plants, state that confinement of plants in 

 small spaces or moist air produced no ill effects except by favoring parasitic 

 growths or abnormal growth of weak tissue. They reach the conclusion that 

 not only is ventilation without effect in producing better seedlings in a small 

 or a large darkened chamber, but that it is without visible effect on the sen- 

 sitive reactions of geotroplsm and beliotropism. 



Studies on the vegetation of New York State. — II, The vegetation of a 

 glacial plunge basin and its relation to temperature, L. 0. Tithy ( Bui I 

 Bot. Club, 45 (1918), No. 5, pp. 203-210, figs. 5).— This is in series with a paper 

 by Bray (E. S. R., 35, p. 14G). 



Data as regards air and soil temperatures are given for a glacial plunge 

 basin near Syracuse. N. Y., whose bottom lies at an altitude of 810 ft. above 

 sea level, the temperature over an area of some thousands of square yards of 

 it remaining throughout the year below 70° F. The bottom area of this basin 

 is occupied by an association of plants characteristically Canadian in distribu- 

 tion, analysis of conditions demonstrating that temperature is the factor con- 

 trolling plant distribution in this area. 



