AGKICULTURAL BOTANY. 625 



On the electric charge of the protoplasm and other substances in living 

 cells, J. F. McClendon (Internat. Ztschr. Plnjs. Chem. Biol., 1 (1914), No. 3-4, 

 pp. 159-162, fig. 1; abs. in Jour. Chem. Soc. [Lomlon^, 108 {1915), No. 629, I, 

 p. 109). — It is stated that although the anthocyanin in the vacuoles of living 

 cells of red cabbage is red and electrically positive, it becomes blue and elec- 

 trically negative before the death of the cells, which results if alkali be added 

 to the medium. The pigment thus behaves as an amphoteric electrolyte. The 

 electrically negative character of protoplasm has not been shown to be due to 

 its alkalinity, although this is considered possible. 



The function of chlorophyll, P. Mxzt {Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 

 160 (1915), No. 23, pp. 739-7.',2) .—Prewious work (E. S. R., 31, p. 221) has been 

 followed up with studies on maize, in which a nutritive solution of high concen- 

 tration produced chlorosis and diminution of transpiration. 



Chlorosis is thought to be rather a means of defense to the plant against 

 too high temperatures than a purely pathological symptom. Chlorophyll is 

 thought to play a physical rather than a chemical part in the higher plants. 



Pollen formation, L. Guigxard {Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 160 {1915), 

 No. Iff, pp. 428-433). — Reviewing some reported exceptions to the usual modes 

 of cell division in pollen formation, successive bipartition and simultaneous 

 quadripartition, considered as characteristic, respectively, of the monocoty- 

 ledons and dicotyledons, the author adds to these a number of cases of his own 

 observation in different species and discusses the possible significance of the 

 facts observed. 



A new cyanogeniferous genus of the papilionaceous legumes, I\I. Gaud 

 (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 161 (1915), No. 1, pp. 10, ii).— The author 

 reports the presence of hydrocyanic acid in Ornithopus compressus and 0. pcr- 

 pusillns, and apparently also in 0. roseus and O. ehracteatus. 



The acid secretion of the gram, plant, Cicer arietinum, D. L. Sahaseabuddhe 

 (Agr. Research Inst. Pusa Bui. 45 (1914), PP- 12). — The author has made a 

 study of the secretion on the leaves of the gram plant, said to be the most com- 

 mon of the pulse crops in India. The secretion contains principally acids, of 

 which malic acid constitutes approximately 94 per cent, oxalic acid nearly 6 

 per cent, and other acids very small proportions. 



There is a marked rise in acidity at the time of flowering and another at the 

 time of pod formation, the maximum of acid corresponding to the full develop- 

 ment of the pods, just before they begin to dry. The proportion between the 

 acids remained remarkably constant from the tenth to the seventeenth week. 

 Pruning increased considerably the total acidity in the plant, computed on the 

 basis of dry material. 



Frequent washing appears to exhaust the acid-producing power of the plant, 

 while washing at periods of six days apparently gives the maximum of product 

 without detriment to its vitality or seed production. It is thought that the 

 production of acid by the plant may reach a point of commercial importance. 



Apparentlj' the acid is produced most abundantly on those portions of the 

 plant characterized by certain multicellular knobbed and stalked hairs, which 

 are described. 



The physiological action of the salts of aluminum upon plants, E. Kbatz- 

 mann (Sitzber. K. Akad. Wiss. [Vienna], Math. Naturic. KL, 123 (1914), II, 

 III, pp. 211-233; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, and 

 Plant Diseases, 6 (1915), No. 3, pp. 403, 404)- — This is a report, with discussion, 

 of studies regarding the effect of aluminum on the color of plants, or portions 

 thereof, containing anthocyanin, and on starch formation and plasmolysis. 



