730 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



jnieroscopic xanthoprotein reaction and coloration in living leaves, microscopic 

 investigation of palisade cells in T. majus, the formation of nitrogenous mate- 

 rials in chloroplasts, and the influence of different factors in leaf coloration. 

 Exact conclusions await further determinations. 



Orientation movements of buds, blooms, and fruits, M. Mobius {Flora 

 [Jena], ii. ser., 11-12 (1918), pp. SDO-JflJ, figs. 11).— This is a study of orienta- 

 tion of plant parts and the supposed causes and significance. 



The microchemical demonstration and the di.stribution of dissolved oxa- 

 lates in plants, H. Molisch (Flora [Jena], n. scr., 11-12 (1918), pp. 60-10, 

 pi. 1). — Presenting data more specialized than in the contribution previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 30, p. 310) and in tabular form with discussion for a long list 

 of widely divergent plants said to contain demonstrable oxalates in their dif- 

 ferent parts, the author states that oxalates are found in a large number of 

 phanerogams, a few families containing species yielding very abundant oxalates. 

 While relationship between members of a family may show a relation to the 

 content of oxalates this is not always the case, as even within the same family 

 great differences may exist as regards oxalate content. 



The absorption of minerals by root tips, Coupin (Compt. Rend. Acad. 

 Sci. [Paris], 169 (1919), No. 5, pp. 242-245).— Carrying forward work previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 43, p. 526), the author has shown that root tips absorb mineral 

 salts from solutions, and that such nutrient salts are copiously utilized for the 

 upbuilding of the plants to which they are thus furnished. 



Influence of certain conditions on the utilization of glucose and levu- 

 lose by Sterigmatocystis nigra, M. Molliard (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 

 167 (1918), No. 26, pp. 1043-10Ji6).— The author presents data bearing upon the 

 variant utilization ratio of glucose and levulose by S. nigra under modification 

 of conditions which are described. Any difference in the diffusion rates of 

 these sugars does not appear to be a factor here. Utilization appears to be 

 a function of mycelial development. In the cases here considered cellular multi- 

 plication is greatly decreased. This is considered as an additional reason to 

 believe that levulose plays the principal role in the upbuilding of vegetable 

 tissues. 



The fermentation by some yeasts of nectar from winter plants, K. 

 ScHOELLHORN (Bul. Soc. Bot. Gcn^vc, 2. ser., 11 (1919), No. 5-9, pp. 15-^-190, 

 figs. 32). — Particulars are given regarding the characters and fermentation of 

 nectar from different plants. 



Ultraviolet raj^s and the sugar cane, pineapple, and banana industries, 

 T. TsuJi (La. Planter, 60 (1918), No. 26, pp. 413, 41^; also in Gard. Chron., 3, 

 ser., 66 (1919), No. 1719, p. 28.^).— The author, studying the action of the ultra- 

 violet rays on chlorophyll in sugar cane, found that germinated and intact canes 

 cultivated in moist soil with exclusion of light at 22° 'C (71.6° F) grew but 

 remained etiolated for 30 days. After this period, one half of these plants were 

 exposed to direct sunlight, the other half to the ultraviolet rays of a quartz 

 mercury vapor lamp of 110 volts and 4 amperes for 2.5 hours. The former 

 plants remained yellow, while the latter assumed a deep green coloration. 

 • Of three rows of sugar cane, one was so shaded with colored glass as to de- 

 crease by 50 per cent the ultraviolet rays of the sun ; the plants of the second 

 were exposed to open sunlight; those of the third were exposed to the ultra- 

 violet rays of the sun and of a weak mercury lamp. Fertilization was the same 

 in each case. After some months of growth, the plants of the first row had 

 gained 1.25 lbs., those of the second, 2.S lbs., and those of the third, 3.33 lbs. 

 These results, and the fact that the period of growth to maturity was reduced 

 from 20 to 11 months, suggest the practicability of using ultraviolet rays for 

 increasing cane crop yields and decreasing the time required per crop in Hawaii. 



