FIELD CROPS. 35 



a succulent desert species, Fouquieria splcndcns, a nonsucculent, and Peganum 

 harmala, a half shrub with perennial subterranean parts, presenting rather 

 the appearance of a mesophyte than of a successful desert perennial. All of 

 these were grown for experimental purposes in the glass house of the Desert 

 Laboratory at Tucson, Ariz. 



Leaf epidermis of the first and second species showed complete plasmolysis 

 within 10 minutes In 0.5 normal solution of potassium nitrate. That from 

 P. harmala showed slow plasmolysis in the same solution, but none in one of 

 lower concentration. The root epidermis required a strength of about 0.75 

 uoi'mal. Later tests with this plant gave very different results, although no 

 explanation is offered. 



Results obtained with 0. discata are said to agree fairly well with those 

 obtained by Livingston (E. S. R., IS, p. 328), while those with P. harmala are 

 said to show a somewhat less dense cell sap than Fitting (E. S. R., 25, p. 430) 

 found for the same species at Biskra. The range of experiments with F. 

 splendens was limitetl by the supply of material on hand. 



On the influence of the order of development of the fruits of Passiflora 

 gracilis upon the frequency of teratological variations, J. A. Harris and 

 R. A. GoRTNER {Plant World, 17 {WIJ,), No. 7, pp. 199-203).— A study of a 

 rather large series of data obtained with P. gracilis, grown in ordinary soil 

 and in soil to which bone meal was added, is said to show that in both classes 

 of substrata the proportion of abnormalities in mature or immature fruits 

 decreases as the plant becomes older. 



Inheritance of leaf coloration in Melandrium, G. H. Shull (Ber. Deut. 

 Bat. Geselh, 31 (1913), Gen. Versamm,l. Heft, pp. i40)~{80), pi. 1, figs. 2).— 

 Giving in considerable detail the results of studies as carried out with Melan- 

 drium, the author states that he has confirmed the claim of Baur (E. S. R., 25, 

 p. 771) regarding the existence of an inheritance factor for the formation of 

 chlorophyll, in the absence of which the young plant does not form chlorophyll 

 and dies in the seedling stage. Three separate cases of leaf coloration are 

 described which do not conform to the Mendelian formula, and their character 

 inheritance is intended to form the substance of a further report. 



A bibliography is appended. 



Immunity of plants to their own poisons, G. D'Ippolito {8taz. Sper. Agr. 

 Ital., 46 {1913), Xo. 6, pp. 393-414)- — Tests were made involving leaves, petioles, 

 etc., of Fceniculinii officinale, Conium maculatiim, Ranunculus, velutimis, and 

 Delphinium staphysagria subjected to the action of alkaloids, etc., from their 

 own or each other's juices, or made up into aqueous solutions. The results are 

 detailed and tabulated. 



The cells were usually killed in from 6 to 48 hours, but it is thought that 

 chemical changes may have interfered with and masked the processes normally 

 to be expected. A bibliograp'hy is appended. 



The antitoxic action of chloral hydrate upon copper sulphate for Pisum 

 sativum, R. P. IIibb.\rd (Rpt. Mich. Acad. »Vc/.. 15 {1913), pp. 130-137, fig. 1).— 

 This has already been noted fi'om another source (E. S. R., 30, p. 728). 



FIELD CROPS. 



Summary of [field crops experiments in Alaska], C. C. Georgeson (Alaska 

 Stas. Rpt. 1913, pp. 10, 11, 13-15, 17-19).— In these pages methods of letting the 

 potatoes sprout before planting to get earlier maturity are described, as well as 

 48 varieties of potatoes grown at the Sitka Station. It is stated that at the 

 Fairbanks Station crops were greatly injured by an August freeze, only the very 



