328 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



tional experiments on the protective action of various salts confirmed the con- 

 clusions of Osterhout (E. S. R., 20, p. 527). Attention is called by the author 

 to previous publications which he claims established the priority of his investi- 

 gations regarding the protective action of some of these salts when used in 

 combination. 



The effect of mineral salts on proteid metabolism in plants, W. Zaleski 

 and W. ISKAiLSKY (Biochem. ZtscJtr., 2't (1910), No. 1-2, ut). i4-2i).— Accord- 

 ing to the authors, it was shown by Prianishulkov that calcium sulphite accel- 

 ei'ated the proteid metabolism in germinating vetch seed. Later it was found 

 (E. S. R., 15, p. 447) that mineral salts, and especially the calcium salts, aided 

 in pi'otein regeneration, which was retarded whenever calcium was excluded 

 from the culture medium. 



The authors conducted a series of experiments with wheat and lupine seed- 

 lings to determine the effect of potassium nitrate, magnesium sulphate, and 

 calcium nitrate, as well as of a complete nutrient solution containing the above 

 salts together with phosphoric acid, on the proteid metabolism as well as the 

 changes in dry matter in young plants. The young shoots were separated from 

 the cotyledons and the proteid metabolism determined for the different parts of 

 the plant. 



The complete nutrient solution favored the reduction of proteid nitrogen in 

 the lupine seedlings as compared with those gi'own in distilled water. There 

 was found an increase of nitrogenous compounds in the axial organs of the 

 plant, with a corresponding reduction in the cotyledons. Potassium nitrate had 

 practically no effect on the total nitrogen metabolism of lupines. Magnesium 

 sulphate not only diminished catabolism in the plants, but also reduced the 

 amount of proteid nitrogen in the axial organs. A slight increase in the nitro- 

 gen content was noted in the axial portions of plants which had received 

 calcium nitrate, but there was little difference in the total for the entire plant. 

 AVith wheat seedlings the chemicals in general reduced the catabolic activities 

 of the plants as compared with tho.se grown for 10 days in distilled water. 



The relation of plants to certain salts, I, II, B. Hansteen (Jahrb. Wiss. 

 Hot. \I'riii(/.sliriiii\. .'/? iHHO). \o. .i, pp. 2.S.9-J76", pi. 1, fig.-i. 1<)).—Ai\ extended 

 study was made by means of water cultures on the influence of solutions of 

 potassium, sodium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as of various mixtures of 

 these salts, on the toxic effect of lime-free solutions and the antitoxic action 

 of lime. The plants used were seedlings of wheat, oats, beans, vetches, poppies, 

 mustard, radish, red clover, and other plants, and the effect of the various 

 solutions on the plant, especially on root growth and root hair development, was 

 noted. 



Magnesium, sodium, and potassium were found injurious to roots in the 

 order named, magnesium being the most toxic. Lime proved a corrective of the 

 injury caused by the other salts. The ratio of lime to the other chemicals 

 varied somewhat, but .should always be increased with a greater concentration 

 of the other compounds. Temperature, osmotic pressure, the nature of the 

 anions, and similar factors had very little connection with the antitoxic action 

 of the calcium salts. Certain antagonisms were noted between some of the 

 compounds. Potassium and magnesium were markedly antagonistic, as shown 

 with wheat seedlings, while the antagonism between potassium and sodium 

 was hardly perceptible. 



The nature of the effect of the salts on the plants is discussed at considerable 

 length. 



The absorption of barium by plants, H. Colin and J. de Rufz (Compt. 

 Rend. .^Icud, Scl. [I'arisl, 130 ilDlO), No. 17, pp. 107. '/-1 07 6). —The results of a 



