AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 31 



Cold storage in wet sand increased germination in Cupressus macrocarpa 

 and Pinus strohus 31 and 32 per cent, respectively. Delayed germination of 

 conifer seeds seems to be due to a lack of water intake, and not to an alkaline 

 or neutral reaction of the embryo. 



Certain samples of frosted oats improve in germinating power as they grow 

 older, while others deteriorate. Certain late varieties of garden peas germinate 

 poorly, due to frost injury to the embryo or to the presence of fungi on, in, or 

 within the seed coat. Seed of about one-half of all species and varieties 

 examined showed fungi in relation with the seed coat within two days after 

 being put to germinate. 



A bibliography is appended. 



The influence of silver nitrate on the germinability of wheat, H. Schkoedeb 

 (BioL Centbl., 35 {1915), No. 1, pp. 8-21,, fig. i).— The author describes experi- 

 mentation with barley, rye, and wheat grains treated with 5 per cent silver 

 nitrate for 24 hours. It is stated that the results as regards both quantitative 

 and qualitative germination fully sustain the author's conclusions as previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 24, p. 532), but disagree with those announced by Birckner 

 (E. S. R., 29, p. 629). 



The influence of acids, alkalis, and alkali salts on the growth of rice 

 plants, K. MiYAKE {Trans. Sapporo Nat. Hist. Soc, 5 {1913), No. 1, pp. 91-95; 

 abs. in Bat. Centbl., 126 {1914), No. 22, p. 588).— The author has attempted to 

 ascertain how far rice plants are influenced by acids and by alkalis and their 

 salts, by testing for the highest harmless and the lowest fatal concentrations 

 of those compounds. It appears probable from these tests that the sodium ion 

 is more injurious than the potassium, but less so than the hydrogen ion, and 

 that the negative ion of the hydroxids is more injurious than is that of sul- 

 phuric or hydrochloric acid, but less so than is the hydrogen ion. 



The favorable influence of manganese on the nodule bacteria of legumes, 

 D. Olaru {Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 160 {1915), No. 8, pp. 280-283).— 

 The author has carried out studies suggested by the reports of Bertrand and 

 Javillier (E. S. R., 27, p. 129) regarding the favorable influence of manganese 

 on lower plant forms. Adding small but increasing proportions of manganese 

 sulphate to nutritive media containing nodule bacteria of legumes, he noted 

 an increasing fixation of nitrogen, rising to an apparent maximum in each 

 series. 



Radium as a means of forcing growth in plants, H. Molisch {Naturwissen- 

 schaften, 2 {1914), No. 5, pp. 104-106, figs. 3; abs. in Bot. Centbl, 126 {1914), 

 No. 25, p. 665). — The author's work testing the influence of radium in hastening 

 development of winter buds has been noted previously (E. S. R., 29, p. 131), as 

 has also his work showing that as good results have been effectively and less 

 expensively obtained by means of warm baths (E. S. R., 21, p. 544; 23, p. 40). 



Specific action of organic compounds in modifying plant characteristics: 

 Methyl glycocoll versus glycocoll, O. Schreiner and J. J. Skinner {Bot. Gaz., 

 59 {1915), No. 6, pp. 445-463, figs. 4)- — In tests described as carried out with 

 wheat plantlets in nutritive solutions it was found that while the addition of 

 glycocoll was generally beneficial to growth, that of methyl glycocoll checked 

 development and produced a peculiar twisting and lateral growth of the top of 

 the plant. This effect was not counteracted by the addition of calcium car- 

 bonate. 



Toxic action of chemicals and mutation in maize, A. Jungelson {Compt. 

 Bend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 160 {1915), No. 15, pp. 481-483) .—The author reports 

 having obtained in the progeny of more or less injured maize seeds, which had been 

 kept in contact for from 1 to 24 hours with a 1 to 2 per cent solution of copper 



