AGRICULTUEAL BOTANY. 823 



vatious made on the forms, arrangements, distribution, etc., of chondriosome 

 elements alleged to exist in yeasts and in fungi studied in early stages of 

 development, the autlior states that choudriosomes are abundant in fungi and 

 are characterized by much the same appearance and peculiarities as in animals 

 and higher plants. 



Morphology of the barley grain with reference to its enzym-secreting 

 areas, A. Mann and H. V. Haklan (U. 8. Dcpt. Agr. Bui. 183 {1915), pp. 32, 

 pis. 8, figs. 7). — A special study has been made of the barley gra^i with a view 

 to improving its quality. The authors give a report on the morphology of the 

 grain, having investigated it both at rest and in germination. 



It is claimed that the integuments of the ripe barley, with the exception of 

 the investing membrane of the uucellus, are only protective. The membrane 

 surrounding the nucellus develops into a semipermeable membrane, which has 

 remarkable selective powers. In the development of the barley grain the endo- 

 sperm is said to develop earlier and more rapidly than the embryo. At maturity 

 the starch is less dense about the periphery of the endosperm than In the 

 center, and the epithelial layer is not functional until near maturity. The con- 

 version of the endosperm is effected by enzyms secreted by the epithelial layer 

 of the scutellum. The conversion proceeds from the proximal end toward the 

 distal end, working more rapidly through the layers immediately beneath the 

 aleurone layer. Cytase and diastase, it Is claimed, must both proceed from the 

 scutellum, and the proteolytic ferments most probably owe their origin to the 

 same organ. Small-berried barleys were found to have a greater diastatic 

 power, due to the secreting area being proportionately larger. The efficiency 

 of conversion is said to depend upon the shape and composition of the grain 

 and upon the relative quantity of diastase secreted. 



The ideal barley grain, it is claimed, should be broadly oval with a scutellum 

 extending well over the edges of the adjacent endosiDerm. If large yield of 

 malt is desired, the size of the grain should be large. If diastase is the main 

 consideration, the size of the grain should be smaller. 



Direct absorption and assimilation of carbohydrates by green plants, L. 

 Knudson (Abs. in Science, n. ser., J/l {1915), No. 10^8, p. ISO). — Confirming the 

 work of Molliard and others (E. S. R., 21, p. 126), the author has found that 

 a variety of plants are able to absorb and assimilate various sugars, including 

 lactose. Lactose was found utilized by vetch, radish, and onion, but not by 

 timothy. For maize the sugars in order of preference by the plant are glucose, 

 levulose, cane sugar, and maltose, while for vetch they are cane sugar, glucose, 

 maltose, and lactose. Experiments on the influence of concentration of sugar, 

 and also of the influence of sugars in enzym production, are said to be In 

 progress. 



A preliminary study of the chlorophyll compounds of the peach leaf, H. S. 

 Reed and H. S. Stahl {Ahs. in Science, n. ser., 41 {1915), No. lOIfS, p. 180). — 

 Investigations were undertaken with special reference to the chlorophyll con- 

 tent of peach leaves, the trees producing which were affected by the disease 

 yellows. The chlorophyll compounds were extracted and separated by the use 

 of inactive solvents. 



The diseased leaves were found to differ from healthy ones both in the qual- 

 ity and quantity of the chlorophyll derivatives extracted. Among the deriva- 

 tives found in healthy peach leaves were chlorophyll a, chlorophyll ft, phyto- 

 rhodin, chlorophyllin, phteophytin, phjephorbid, ' methyl-phaeophorbid, methyl- 

 chlorophyllid, phytochlorin, carotin, and xanthophyll. As the disease advance<I 

 there was found to be a decrease in the quantity of chlorophyll and chlorophyll 

 derivatives. The diminution of the green series was gi'eater than that of the 

 yellow-brown series. 



