AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 327 



The object of the iuvestlgation was to determine whether this wild pea 

 might be the original from which were derived the present garden and field 

 peas. In the previous account some doubt was expressed regarding this, as 

 many of the hybrids proved to be sterile. In the latter investigations some of 

 them were fertile, but the main purpose of the investigation does not seem 

 to have been attained. 



Six different species of nodule bacteria, H. Gakman and Mary Didlake 

 (Kentucky Sta. Bui. 18^ (1914), pp. 341-363, pis. 7).— As a result of .several 

 years' experiments in which plants were grown under sterile conditions in agar, 

 water cultures, and soil cultures, the authors arrived at the conclusion that 

 there are several strains of nodule bacteria, some of which are rather closely 

 limited as to their ability to infect different species. Their investigations 

 indicate that there are varietal or racial forms occurring on alfalfa which also 

 inoculate other species of Medicago, a form on clover which is confined to 

 plants of the genus Trifolium, one occurring on vetch and garden peas, one on 

 the cowpea, one on the soy bean, and one on the garden bean. Detailed ac- 

 counts are given of all of the inoculation experiments carried on. 



The nitrog'en nutrition of mold fungi, \y. Buknner (Centhl. Bakt. [etc.], 

 2. Abt., 40 (1914), A'o- 22-25, pp. 555-647, pi. 1, fig. i).— Reporting results of a 

 continuation of former studies (E. S. R., 27, p. 26), chiefly with Ai^pcrgillus 

 niger as nutritively related to various nitrogen compounds, the author states 

 that concentration of nitrogen in the nutritive medium and also age of the cul- 

 ture involved exercised a decided influence on the growth of the fungus tested. 

 Diminution of the nitrogen supply resulted quickly in increased proteolysis and 

 a decrease in the nitrogen content of the fungus produced under such circum- 

 stances. But little light was thrown upon the question as to the form in which 

 the nitrogen was utilized in these experiments. 



An extensive bibliography is appended. 



Bacterial symbiosis in case of Rubiaceae, F. C. von Faber (Jahrb. Wiss. 

 Bot. [Pringsheiin], 54 (1914), ^o. 2, pp. 243-264, figs. 3).— In continuance of 

 earlier communications (E. S. R., 27. p. 225; 28, pp. 35, 130), the author, dis- 

 cussing also related contributions by Miehe (E. S. R., 29, p. 30) and others, 

 reports further studies tending in some respects to confirm the claim that he- 

 reditary symbiosis exists between certain plants, as Pavetta spp., and their in- 

 dwelling organisms. 



The assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen by plant hairs, F. Ko\'essi (Rev. 

 Q&n. Bot., 26 (1914), Nos. 301, pp. 22-47; 303, pp. 106-128, pi. 1, figs. 2).— Con- 

 tinuing previous communications (E. S. R., 25, p. 326), and giving more par- 

 ticular attention to the claims made by Jamieson (E. S. R., 19, p. 127) and by 

 Zempl5n and Rcth (E. S. R., 22, p. 521), the author describes experiments with 

 Robinia pseudacacia, R. Jiispida, Ribcs grossularia, JEscuhis hippocastanum; 

 Acer platanoldcs, and A. pftcudoplatanus. He stated that the trichomes of 

 plants cultivated in free air and those of plants in a nitrogen-free medium de- 

 velopetl in exactly the same way, and maintains that nitrogen is not taken up 

 by the trichomes from the air directly. 



The biological formation and function of alkaloids, J. Gadameb (Ber. Deut. 

 Pharm. Gesell., 24 (1914), pp. 35-55; abs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [London], 106 

 (1914), A'o. 618, I, p. 467). — Reviewing critically the various theories advanced 

 regarding the formation and function of alkaloids in plants, the author claims 

 that while the theory that alkaloids are formed from decomposition products 

 of proteins (and that they are therefore waste products) explains many of the 

 facts known, it is not in harmony with observations made by the author that 

 Papcver orientale contains thebaine only when at the height of vegetative 



