224 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



than do apple green plants from a mixed sod. The effect of locality upon trans- 

 piration is also noted. 



It appears that succulence is not bound up with reduced transpiration rate. 

 It was shown that aerial parts absorb sea water. The rate may be increased 

 if transpiration be permitted after removal from the soil before immersion. 

 The plants considered can make good some of their losses of water from the 

 sea water, though not to so great an extent as from fresh Avater. They can take 

 advantage of rain, dew, or sea water. They can also absorb water from the air. 

 Finally, it is stated that parts of plants may, during drought, be kept alive by 

 water derived from other portions. 



Vegetation of undrained depressions on the Sacramento plains, F. Kam- 

 ALEY {Bot. Gaz., 68 {1919), No. 5, pp. 380-387, fig. i).— The observations here 

 recorded as made in 1917, chiefly in the neighborhood of Sacramento, Cal., 

 extended in all directions for distances of 20 to 90 miles over an area most of 

 which is exceedingly flat and low, various depressions containing standing 

 water during portions of the spring. The vegetation of these depressions is very 

 different from that of the usual grassland of the region, being composed of very 

 few species with practically no introduced weeds. The depressions usually show 

 a central area and a marginal zone, the former characterized by a dense growth 

 of Allocarya or Baeria, and the latter by Floerkea doughisii and Deschanrpsia 

 danthoitiokles. Subordinate species of both areas are noted, and the seasonal 

 changes are indicated. A systematic list of species is given, 10 of which are 

 noted as characteristic, 8 as frequent, and 11 as occasional. 



Colloidal properties of bog water, G. B. Rigg and T. G. Thompson (Bot. 

 Gas., 68 (1919), No. 5, pp. 367-379).— This paper is a report of work on the 

 chemical analysis of bog water, the colloidal state in water, and the effects of 

 this material on the growth of plants. Much of the work is now reported for 

 the first time, but a brief general statement of a portion has been made pre- 

 viously (E. S. R., 36, p. 320). It is also shown how the data as here given 

 tend to explain current agricultural practice in bog utilization. 



Bog water gives a precipitate on standing a few hours after saturation with 

 electrolytes or on standing a year or more without electrolytes. The filtrate 

 from the precipitation with ammonium sulphate is not, when dialyzed until 

 free from sulphates, toxic to the root hairs of Tradescantia cuttings. Bog 

 water, when dialyzed for the same length of time as this filtrate, is toxic to 

 these root hairs. The distillate from bog water gives no precipitate with elec- 

 trolytes, is much less acid than bog water, and is nontoxic to these root hairs. 

 The toxicity of bog water to Tradescantia cuttings seems to be connected with 

 the matter, in that it is in a colloidal state. The oxidation of this toxic 

 matter to nontoxic matter seems to be a basis of agricultural practice in bring- 

 ing bog lands into cultivation. 



Physiological pre-deterniination: The influence of the physiological con* 

 dition of the seed upon the course of subsequent growth and upon the 

 yield. — II, Review of literature. — Chapter I, F. Kidd and C West (Ann. 

 Appl. Biol., 5 (1918), No. 2, pp. 112-142, figs. 2).— This section of reports pre- 

 viously noted (E. S. R., 40, p. 727) constitutes a critical review of literature 

 bearing directly or indirectly on the present problem. 



Relation of nutrient solution to composition and reaction of cell sap of 

 barley, D. R. Hoagland (Bot. Gaz., 68 (1919), No. 4, pp. 297-30.',).— As result 

 of a study of sap expi'essed from barley plants grown in water, sand, and soil 

 cultures under controlled conditions, the author states that the osmotic pres- 

 sures in the sand and water cultures are effective in the cell sap of the tops and 

 roots. Electrical condition of the nutrient solution has a marked influence on 

 the conductivity of the sap, which is as marked for the tops as for the roots. 



