426 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOKD 



The plurality of starches, C. Tanret (Compt. Rend. Acad. 8ei. [Parisi, 159 

 (1914), No. 13, pp. 530-532). — In continuation of previous studies (B. S. R., 

 31, p. 828) the author has investigated some of the jihysical qualities of starch, 

 particularly the effect of heat. Starches derived from 16 different sources 

 were submerged in a water bath at temperatures varying from 35 to 90° C. 

 and also at boiling temperature. The results indicate that starches from differ- 

 ent plants vary quite decidedly in their physical attributes. 



Som.e recent work on plant oxidases, W. R. G. Atkins (Sci. Prog. Tioentieth 

 Cent., 9 (1914), No. 33, pp. 112-126). — ^A critical review is given of recent pub- 

 lications relating to the nature of plant oxidases, their physiological function, 

 distribution in relation to pigmentation, and role in plant pathology, and the 

 bearing of oxidase investigations on technology. 



Lipase in the germinating coconut, M. L. Roxas (Philippine Agr. and For- 

 ester, 3 (1914), No. 2, pp. 33-39). — The results are given of a study in which 

 the author found that lipase was present both as an enzym and a zymogen in 

 germinating coconuts. It occurs mainly in the outer part of the haustorium, 

 smaller amounts being found in the water of the coconut and in the inner 

 surface of the endosperm. 



Correlation between the anatomical coeflicients of maize and its size and 

 nitrogen content, S. Moskvichev (Zhur. Opytn. Agron. (Riiss. Jour. Expt. 

 Lamlw.), 15 (1914), No. 4, pp. 266-281) .—Fvom a study of five varieties of 

 maize, the author concludes that cell size shows a positive correlation with 

 height of this plant, but a negative correlation with nitrogen percentage. 



The effect of detasseling maize, E. Heckel (Compt. Rend. Acad. 8ci. [Paris'], 

 159 (1914), No. 16, pp. 595-597).— In a previous publication (E. S. R., 28, p. 

 225) the author showed that there was a considerable increase in sugar content 

 of the stalks of maize after the removal of the staminate and pistillate flowers. 

 These experiments have been continued with the same general results. 



It was noted, however, that all plants did not behave in a uniform manner. 

 In a planting made of giant Serbian maize, while showing in some instances an 

 increase in glucose and saccharose in the stems after detasseling, the average 

 sugar content of the detasseled lot was below that of the check lot grown under 

 similar conditions. Selections have been made of the high-yielding individuals, 

 and breeding experiments are in progress to learn whether increased sugar con- 

 tent can be transmitted to the progeny. 



A biochemical study of nitrogen in certain legumes, A. L. Whiting 

 (Illinois Sta. Bui. 179 (1915), pp. 469-542, figs. 23; Bui. 179, ahs. (1914), PP. 

 S, figs. 2). — ^After giving a r6sum6 of information relating to the biology of 

 nitrogen assimilation through Bacillus radicicola, the author describes experi- 

 ments conducted to determine through- which organs the legumes obtain their 

 nitrogen from the aii', and the relative percentages of nitrogenous compounds 

 in the various parts of the soy bean and covsqiea at definite periods of growth. 



As indicated in the first series of experiments, carried on with soy beans 

 and cowpeas, the plants were grown under control conditions. One lot received 

 a definite proportion of oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxid, a second oxygen 

 and carbon dioxid, while a third received ordinary air. As the result of these 

 experiments it was found that the cowpea and soy bean utilize atmospheric 

 nitrogen through their roots and not through their leaves. Under the conditions 

 of the exi)eriments no combined nitrogen could have been assimilated. 



In the second series of investigations the total nitrogen determinations showed 

 that about 74 per cent of the nitrogen of cowpeas and soy beans at the time 

 of harvest is in the tops, while the remainder is distributed between the roots 

 and the nodules. In the earlier periods of growth the roots contain the larger 

 part of the nitrogen. The percentage of soluble nitrogen varies with the dif- 



