436 EXPEBIMENT STATION RECOED. [Vol.35 



Zea mays, germinated in a nutritive medium free from iron but containing a 

 very small proportion of magnesium pyrrolic carbonate, the plantlets when 20 

 days old were well developed and normally green while the control, which 

 lacked this magnesium compound, remained backward and showed only a 

 very small amount of green, which was confined to the first two leaves. 



The effect of the concentration of the nutrient solution on the growth of 

 barley and wheat in water cultures, Winifred E. Brenchley (Ann. Bot. 

 [London], 30 (1916), Xo. 117, pp. 77-90, pl.^^, figs. 4).— It is stated that in case 

 of barley and wheat grown in nutrient solutions under favorable conditions 

 the concentration influences greatly the rate and total of growth even when the 

 balance of the solution approximates a constant level. Starvation effects were 

 noted at much higher concentrations than reported in this connection by some 

 observers. The action of different high concentrations of constant balance has 

 not been determinerl and it is considered uncertain whether there exists a dis- 

 tinct optimum or a range of equally beneficial concentrations. 



The influence of strong Rontgen rays on the germination and growth of 

 higher plants, M. Koernicke (Jahrb. Wiss. Bot. [Pringsheim']. 56 (1915), 

 Pfcffer-Festschr., pp. 416-^30, figs. If). — Giving an account of the effects of 

 X-rays of varying strength on different plants, the author states that these rays 

 parallel other rays and various bodies in solution in their biological influences, 

 inasmuch as heavier dosage checks while lighter dosage favors the develop- 

 ment of the plants and the activity of the process which normally take place 

 within them. 



Smoke as a means of shortening winter rest, H. Molisch ( Umschau, 20 

 (1916). No. 12, pp. 230-233, figs. 5). — Smoke of tobacco, paper, or sawdust gave 

 essentially the same result in hastening the resumption of activity after the 

 winter rest period in case of several common plants exposed thereto for one or 

 two days. The manner in which these results are produced was not dis- 

 covered. 



Botanical diagnosis of smoke injury in forests, F. W. Neger (Naturwisscn- 

 schaftcn, 4 {1916), No. 7, pp. 85-90, figs. 4)- — Following up his previous work 

 (E. S. R., 35, p. 243) by alleging a degree of unreliability of certain phenomena 

 as criteria for smoke injury to forest vegetation, the author states that it is 

 inevitable that smoke effects should resemble more or less those of drought and 

 frost, since each results in the killing of the plasma of the as.similating cells, 

 causing a sudden loss of water and the subsequent drying of these parts. 



Anomalies in Beta vulgaris, I, II, O. Munerati and T. V. Zapparoli (Atti 

 R. Acad. Lined, Rend. CI. Sci. Fis., Mat. e Nat., 5. ser., 4 (1915), I, Nos. 11, 

 pp. 1150-1158, figs. 12; 12, pp. 1236-1239, figs. 3).— This discussion of anomalies 

 of beets inclules cotyledonary leaves, fasciation, ascidiform leaf structure, 

 neurochorisis affecting the median nerve, trumpet formation of leaves, filiform 

 growth of leaves, cortical melanism, degeneration of roots, and other pecu- 

 liarities. 



Studies on the phylogeny of Nicotiana tabacum, G. E. Anastasia (Atti R. 

 Accad. Lincei, Rend. CI. Sci. Fi^., Mat. e Nat., 5. ser., 24 (1915), I, No. 11, pp. 

 1146-1150). — Giving an account of studies carried out subsequently to those 

 previously reported (E. S. R., 18, p. 635), the author holds that N. tabacum 

 was originally derived from a hybridization of the two forms N. rustica and N. 

 petnnioides. 



The floral biology of the peach, C. Campbell (Atti R. Accad. Lincei, Rend. 

 CI. Sci. Fis., Mat. e Nat., 5. ser., 24 (1915), I, No. 1, pp. 68-73, figs. 2).— This 

 is a discus'sion of the floral characters of the peach considered as being not only 

 of biological and systematic, but also of agricultural, importance. 



