30 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



grows, a corrn and roots are produced, and food is transferred from seed to corm 

 without the formation of leaves or other photosynthetic organ. At the end of 

 the growing season the connection with the seed is broken off, leaving the new 

 plant independent. Some corms are from three to six times as large as others 

 under apparently the same conditions. 



A similar set of experiments with A. dracontium showed that in this species 

 the formation of leaves is a somewhat rare exception. Other evidence of incom- 

 plete response to seasonal changes was observed, and the suggestion is made of 

 a definite periodicity requiring more than the usual rest season for this plant. 



The longevity of submerged seeds, G. H. Shull {Plant World, It (1914), 

 No. 11, pp. 329-831, figs. 2). — The appearance of more than 140 species of plants 

 on the dried bed of an old mill pond that had been drained suggested additional 

 tests on the viability of seeds of some of these species. It was found that under 

 laboratory conditions a number of seeds germinated after a submergence of 

 more than four years, and some seeds are said to have been viable after seven 

 years of continual submergence. 



The assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen, and the reaction of albuminoid 

 material contained in specialized hairs of plants cultivated in oxygen with- 

 out nitrogen, F. Kovkssi {Rev. G6n. Bot., 25 Us {191 Jf), pp. 405-415). — The 

 author cites recent studies claimed to have been very carefully carried out and 

 to confirm his conclusions previously announced (E. S. R., 32, p. 327). 



Biochemical influence of manganese, A. Pugliese {Atti R. 1st. Incoragg. 

 Napoli, 6. ser., 65 {1913), pp. 289-315). — Detailing investigations regarding the 

 antagonism between iron and manganese in nutritive solutions for wheat, etc., 

 the author agrees with Masoni (E. S. R., 26, p. 226) in claiming that such 

 antagonism exists, and he states that the optimum ratio for these two materials 

 seems to be in the neighborhood of 1 : 2.5. 



The action of antimoniacal salts on the respiration of plants, W. Palladin 

 and G. Cohnstamm {Rei\ Gen. Bot., 25 his {1914), pp. 539-555). — The authors 

 found that the respiration of etiolated shoot tips of vetch is stimulated by 1 per 

 cent of antimony tartrate, as by other poisons (E. S. R., 23, p. 629), presumably 

 as a defensive reaction against the poison, while the respiration of germinating 

 peas is decreased by that solution. The difference is ascribed to the deficiency 

 of respiratory chromogens in peas, and the consequent lessened absorption of 

 oxygen by them. The normal coefficient of respiration is but little affected in 

 seeds of peas and shoots of vetch by this poison, but in young rootlets of sprout- 

 ing peas, which normally show the coefficient CO- : 02=1 : 2, the coefficient be- 

 comes CO2 : 02=1, corresponding to a decrease in growth rate. The action of 

 this salt decreases the inspiration of dead cells. Seeds poisoned with antimony 

 after freezing give off a decreased amount of carbon dioxid. 



Volatile acids in fermentation products of some anaerobic bacteria, G. 

 Sfxiheb {Rev. Gen. Bot., 25 Us {1914), PP- 589-59S).— Giving details and results 

 of work according to the method of Duclaux, as formerly noted (E. S. R., 24, 

 p. 120), and using cultures of Bacillus Uityricus, B. perfringens, and B. pxitri- 

 flcus, the author states that the first of these produces butyric and acetic acid 

 and the second produces acetic and formic acid (propionic acid also being noted 

 in some of the cultures). For B. putriflcus it is difficult to ascertain the exact 

 nature of the volatile acids produced. It is said to have been shown that 

 under constant conditions of culture the same acids are produced constantly 

 by a given species of the orgiinism. 



Fatal temperatures for some diastases of animal or vegetable origin, E. C. 

 T^ODORKSCO {Rev. G6n. Bot., 25 Us (1914), PP- 599-627).— Giving further details 

 (E. S. II., 28, p. 803) of tests made with diastases heated to varying degrees, 



