724 EXPEKIMENT STATION KECOED. 



Commercial fertilizers, J. T. Willard et al. (Kansas Sta. Bui. 204 (1915), 

 pp. S-JfO). — This bulletin contains actual and guarantied analyses of 105 samples 

 of fertilizers and fertilizing materials offered for sale in Kansas and a state- 

 ment of receipts and expenditures from January 1, 1913, to June 30, 1914. On 

 the basis of this inspection the fertilizer business of the State is considered to 

 be in good condition. 



There is also a special article by C. O. Swanson on the value and use of 

 fertilizers designed to assist the farmers of Kansas in the intelligent use of 

 fertilizers. It is thought probable that owing to the uncertainty regarding the 

 climate, the tendency in Kansas will be toward the use of more slowly avail- 

 able plant food rather than that which is more quickly available. 



A list of Kansas dealers in fertilizers is appended. 



Analyses of commercial fertilizers, P. H. Wessels et al. (Rhode Island Sta. 

 Insp. Bui., 1915, July, pp. 8). — This contains actual and guarantied analyses 

 and valuations of 45 samples of fertilizers and fertilizing materials for sale in 

 Rhode Island in the spring of 1915. 



AGRICULTURAL 30TANY. 



Plant anatomy, W. I. Palladin, trans, by S. Tschulok (Pflansenanatomie. 

 Leipsic: B. G. Teubner, 191^, pp. IV -\- 195, figs. 174). — This is a translation of 

 the fifth Russian edition. The three main divisions deal in more or less 

 detail with the anatomy of plant cells, tissues, and organs, and modifications 

 thereof by various agencies. It is designed for use by students of pharmacy, 

 forestry, agriculture, and natural science. 



Anatomical relations of some variegated foliage leaves, R. Koketsu (Bot. 

 Mag. [Tokyo], 28 (1914), No. 336, pp. 323-32.5) .—The author gives briefly the 

 results of studies carried out with several species of variegated plants. 



Green coloring matter is deficient or absent in all or certain layers of varie- 

 gated leaf parts. The color of such portions depends more or less upon the 

 subepidermal air bubbles or spaces. Cells of such tissue are usually tenderer 

 and smaller than in tissue of normal color, the colorless portions of leaves being 

 also abnormally thin. Tissue differentiation in the mesophyll is usually indis- 

 tinct or abnormal, intercellular spaces being often abnormally large or small. 

 Starch is absent in the colorless cells. Colorless leaf cells usually contain con- 

 siderable calcium oxalate, but no oil droplets. Cuticle develops in these cells 

 much as in normal leaves. Stomata are usually about as numerous in these 

 areas as elsewhere, but Quercus glauca monstrosa appears to have no stomata 

 in the white portions. Nitrogen and fats are only sparingly present, but sugar 

 is often plentiful. Oxidation enzyms are not abundant. 



Some observations are also given in regard to coloration and anatomical cor- 

 relations in these variegated portions. 



Structure and function in contractile roots, G. Catalano (Nuovo Gior. Bot. 

 iff/7., 22 (1915), No. 1, pp. 148-114, figs. 6). — This is an account of anatomical 

 and morphological studies on several plants whose roots show a tendency to 

 more or less persistent shortening and thickening, as related to the storing of 

 reserve material, to moisture as causing more or less temporary turgor, and to 

 other conditions. 



The track of stimulus in Mimosa pudica, K. Linsbaueb (Ber. Deut. Bot. 

 Gcscll., 32 (1914), No. 9, pp. 609-621, figs. 3). — The author cites experiments and 

 observations which are considered to show that the conduction of wound stimu- 

 lus in M. pudica may occur in connection with considerable tracts of the woody 

 I>ortions of the stem, without reference to the presence or absence of the cortex. 



