28 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



Recent studies on carbon assiniilation, G. Pollacci (Bui. Soc. Bot. Ital., 

 1912, No. 8, pp. 208-211). — In order to test the view that pU^nts assimilate 

 carbon only from carbon dioxid absorbed from the atmosphere by their green 

 parts, the author experimented with plantlets of Acer pseiidoplatanus and 

 Morus nigra from 5 to 15 cm. in length, previously deprived of starch. The 

 roots were supplied with a nutritive solution, into which atmospheric air was 

 freely admitted, while the aerial portions were sealed apart in a chamber with 

 provision for entirely freeing the confined or the admitted air from carbon 

 dioxid. 



It is stated that in a few days new leaves were grown and starch was de- 

 veloped in appreciable quantity. The question is not yet regarded as settled 

 whether the carbon thus utilized was obtained from preexis'ing tissues by a 

 process of intramolecular respiration, or from the water absorbed by the roots 

 and coming in contact with the chloroplasts. 



Variations in the sodium chlorid content of nonhalophytes, L. Margaret 

 Blackxedge {Ann. Bot. [London], 21 (191S), No. 105, pp. 168-171). — Observa- 

 tions were made on a large number of plants at different distances from the sea 

 coast to determine the variation in the amount of sodium chlorid present in 

 their leaves. The plants analyzed were Acer psevdoplatanu.s, Ulinus campestris, 

 and Ilex aquifoUum, and the amount of sodium chlorid directly absorbed by 

 the leaves from the atmosphere was determined. From the results of the in- 

 vestigation, it is held that the leaves of such plants receive their supply of 

 sodium chlorid very largely from that occurring in the atmosphere. 



The occurrence of manganese in plants, F. Jadin and A. Astrxjc {Jour. 

 Phdfin. et Chim., 7. ser., 7 {1913), No. J,, pp. 155-161).— The authors give the 

 results of analyses of about 65 species of plants, in which it is shown that 

 manganese is widely distributed in the plant kingdom. The amount present 

 was found to vary with the different organs of the plants examined. The 

 manganese content of different plants belonging to the same family could not 

 be taken as indicative of the average content to be expected in other members 

 of the order. A number of species of parasites were examined, and there was 

 observed to be no relation between the manganese content of the parasite and 

 its host. Chlorophyll-bearing portions of the plant as a rule were richer in 

 manganese than the subterranean parts. 



On the substitution of glucinivim for magnesium and zinc in cultures of 

 Sterigmatocystis nigra, M. Javillier {Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 156 

 {1913), No. 5, pp. Ii06-Ji09). — As a result of experiments on the substitution of 

 glucinium for magnesium and zinc in culture solutions, it was found that 

 glucinium could not replace magnesium, which appears to be an indispensable 

 element for the nutrition of this fungus, nor could it replace zinc as a cata- 

 lyzing agent. 



The replacement of zinc by glucinium in cultures of Aspergillus niger, 

 C. Lepierre {Covvpt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 156 {1913), No. 5, pp. Ji09-J,ll).— 

 From experiments conducted with this fungus grown in culture media the 

 author claims that glucinium can be assimilated and fixed by the plant, and 

 he believes that cadmium and glucinium are not the only elements capable 

 of replacing zinc in Raulin solution for the growth of molds. 



The decomposition of urea, uric acid, hippuric acid, and glycocoll by 

 mold fungi, I, II, III, A. Kossowicz {Ztschr. Gdrungsphysiol., 1 {1912), No. 

 1, pp. 60-62; 2 {1912). Nos. 1, pp. 51-55; 2, pp, 8^-83).— The author states 

 that in the course of his experiments with Botrytis bassiana, Penicillium cms- 

 taceum (P. glavcum), P. hrevicaule, Oladosporium herbarum, Phytophthora 

 infestans, Aspergillus glaucus, A. niger, Isaria farinosa, Mucor, and Fuai- 

 sporium all proved able under suitable conditions to utilize as a nitrogen source 



