528 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The fermentation of cellulose, K. F. Kelleeman and I. G. McBeth (Centtl. 

 Bakt. {etcl, 2. Aht., 3 J, {1912), No. 18-22, pp. -^85-49^, pis. 2).— This is a de- 

 tailed account of investigations previously reported upon (E. S. R., 26, p. 825). 



The question of cellulose fermentation, W. Omexiansky {Cenibl. Bakt. 

 [etc.], 2. Abt., 36 (1913), No. 19-25, pp. 412, 473).— This is a criticism of the 

 above work. 



The use of congo red in culture media, K. F. Kelleeman (U. 8. Dept. Agr., 

 Bur. Plant Indus. Virc. 130, p-p. 15-11). — In a previous publication (E. S. R., 

 25, p. 44) attention was called to the value of congo red for the identification 

 of the organism Bacillus tumefaciens, the cause of crown gall of orchard trees, 

 vines, and other plants. Subsequent investigations with a large number of 

 species of bacteria grown on various media have shown that when grown in a 

 nitrogen-ix)or medium, B. tumefaciens strongly absorbs the dye. In this respect 

 it is much more active than any of the other organisms, although several species 

 were stained by it. When grown in a beef agar, at least 4 other siJecies of 

 bacteria were found to absorb the dye to a greater extent than the causal organ- 

 ism of crown gall. The absorption of congo red by certain strains of bacteria 

 is believed to be a phenomenon associated with soma protoplasmic function. 



The physiolog'ical functions of calcium, O. Loew {Flora, n. ser., 5 {1913), 

 No. Jf, pp. JfJil, JfJiS, fig. 1). — RefeiTing to studies previously reported (E. S. R., 

 4, p. 221), the author explains the contraction of the nuclei in cells subjected to 

 potassium oxalate solutions of from 0.5 to 2 per cent strength as due probably 

 to the extraction of the water of imbibition on the withdrawal of the calcium 

 from the nucleus. 



The action of mang-anese dioxid and other metallic compounds on the 

 g'ermination of seed, U. Varvaro {Staz. Sper. Agr. Itul., 45 {1912), No. 12, 

 pp. 917-929). — As the result of experiments employing oxids of manganese, iron, 

 uranium, cerium, copper, zinc, aluminum, cadmium, mercury, and lead, the 

 author found in germination experiments with kidney beans that the various 

 oxids tested exerted a retardative effect, possibly excepting oxid of lead; that 

 with maize the oxids of zinc, lead, copper, cadmium, aluminum, and uranium 

 exercised accelerative influence; and that with beans a decidedly detrimental 

 effect was produced by the use of 0.25 per cent solution of any of the metallic 

 compounds tested. 



The effect of certain chlorids singly and combined in pairs on the activity 

 of malt diastase, L. A. Hawkins {Bot. Oas., 55 {1913), No. 4, pp. 265-285).— 

 A report is given of investigations on the effects of the chlorids of sodium, 

 potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, and iron on the hydrolytic activity of 

 Merck's diastase of malt 



A wide variation was shown in the influence of the different chlorids upon 

 diastatic action, and this is thought probably to be related to the properties of 

 the various cations employed. More or less pronounced acceleration of starch 

 hydrolysis was shown for all the salts used at dift'erent concentrations. Re- 

 tardation of hydrolysis was shown at high concentrations for all salts except 

 sodium and potns.sium chlorids. Combinations of two salts were shown to be 

 sometimes more and sometimes less efiicient in modifying diastatic action than 

 were molecularly equal concentrations of their component salts. It is thought 

 possible that enzymic power may in some cases at least be more highly devel- 

 oped by the presence of a properly balanced salt combination than is possible 

 through the influence of single salts. 



Self -poisoning in cultures of PenicilKum as the result of nitrogen feeding, 

 C. Wehmee {Ber. Deut. Bot. Oesell, 31 {1913), No. 4, pp. 211-225, figs. 3).— 

 The author states, along with uumierous other deuUls, that self-poisoning was 



