726 EXPERIMENT STATION" EECOED. 



that a trace of soil added to a protein-free synthetic culture medium, with am- 

 monium sulphate as the source of nitrogen, led to the development of a strong 

 growth of bacteria. Analysis made six months after inoculation of the soil 

 showed the presence of creatinin, as indicated by color reactions and by the 

 formation of creatinin zinc chlorid. 



The assimilation of carbon and nitrogen compounds by mold fungi, A. 

 Kossowicz (Biochem. Ztschr., 67 {1914), ^o. 4-5, pp. 391-399). — More recent 

 study (E. S. R., 32, p, 728) of the nutritional relations between ten widely 

 divergent and common mold fungi named, and several carbon and nitrogen 

 compounds is claimed to have §hown that in pure cultures these fungi were each 

 able to utilize as the sole nitrogen source, uric acid, hippuric acid, glycocoll, 

 guanin or its compounds, calcium cyanamid, nitrites, or nitrates, and urea, and 

 as a carbon source any of the first four above-named substances. 



The relation of yeasts and molds to nitrates, A. Kossowicz (Biochem. 

 Zischr., 67 (1914), No. 4-5, pp. 400-419). — Results are detailed of several series 

 of experiments in which some or all of the ten fungi employed in the studies 

 above noted were found to reduce nitrate in the nutritive medium to nitrite. 

 Results with yeasts were either less definite or else negative. 



The nitrate ferment and the formation of physiological species, M. W. 

 Beijerinck (Folia Microbiol. [Delft], S (1914), No. 2, pp. 91-113, pi. i).— Dis- 

 cussing results of further investigations (E. S. R., 32, p. 523), the author con- 

 trasts these ferments with some related kinds and discusses the difficulty or 

 imposibility here illustrated of distinguishing sharply between mutations and 

 hereditarily stable modifications. The two kinds of nitrate ferment are claimed 

 to be clearly distinguishable. 



Influence of hybridization and cross-pollination on the water requirement 

 of plants, L. J. Bkiggs and H. L. Shantz (JJ. S. Dept. Agr., Jour. Agr. 

 Research, 4 (1915), No. 5, pp. 391-402, pi. 1, fig. 1). — It having been suggested by 

 Collins (E. S. R., 24, p. 236) that hybridization might result in increased drought 

 resistance, the authors report on a study of the water requirements of 8 first 

 generation maize hybrids and 1 wheat hybrid (a cross between Triticum durum 

 and T. cestivum). The measurements were made at Akron, Colo., from 1912 to 

 1914, the methods previously described (E. S. R., 29, p. 825) being employed. 



From the data presented, it appears that "the hybrids ranged in water re- 

 quirement from 10 per cent below to 10 per cent above the parental mean. 

 On the basis of the results so far obtained, the chances are even that a maize 

 hybrid will not depart in its water requii-ement more than ^^6 per cent from 

 the parental mean. Cross-pollination between individual plants of maize leads 

 to results similar to hybridization of different strains, so far as water require- 

 ment and yield are concerned. A wheat hybrid which had been grown for 

 several generations gave a water requirement 14 per cent above the mean 

 water requirement of the parental strains." 



The relation between light intensity and the formation of essential oil, 

 V. LuBiMENKO and M. Novikov (Trudy Biuro Prikl. Bot. (Bui. Appl. Bot.), 

 7 (1914), No. 11, pp. 697-727). — In studies carried out with Ocimum hasilicum 

 under illumination of" different intensities, the author claims to have shown 

 that the development of plant organs and production of essential oil bear a 

 relation to the intensity of illumination to which the plant is subjected. 



A gradual decrease of intensity leads to a preponderance of development of 

 the vegetative portions over that of both flowers and fruits. The stems attain 

 their maximum weight under stronger illumination than that requii-ed for such 

 attainment in case of the leaves. Production of dry substance in this plant as 

 a whole attains its maximum in somewhat attenuated daylight, diminishing 

 rapidly with departure in either direction from this point. Light seems to act 



