818 EXPERIMENT STATTO?^ EEPOP.D. f Vol. 41 



drainage area must be admitted to be the principal source of the supply and 

 the explanation of the uniformity that prevails in the deposit." 



Separation of potash salts, H. P. Bassett {Chem. and McttalL Engin., 20 

 {1919), No. 2, pp. 76, 77). — The author discusses methods of separation of potash 

 salts from lake brines, containing roughly equal amounts of potassium sul- 

 phate, sodium sulphate, and sodium carbonate, with a view to obtaining mar- 

 ketable products from the remaining salts. This is considered entirely feasible. 



Potash production in Eussia (Neic York: Cent. War Indust. Com. Russia: 

 Amer. Delegation [1918], pp. 6). — This report states that the main sources of 

 Russian potash are the ashes of stalks of sunflowers. In 1911 the production 

 was 26,405,580 lbs., and it is stated that at present the main regions of pro- 

 duction are Northern Caucasia and the Saratov region. The estimated total 

 annual production in Northern Caucasia during 1915 to 1917 was .30,000,000 to 

 35,000,000 lbs. of potash containing from 88 to 90 per cent of potassium carb(m- 

 ate, while the annual production for the same period in Saratov v/as from 

 5.000,000 to 7,000,000 lbs. of potash containing from 78 to 80 per cent of potas- 

 sium carbonate. It is estimated that 10,000,000 lbs. of Russian, potassium 

 carbonate were imported into the United States during 1918. 



Limestone action on acid soils, R. Stewakt and F. A. Wyatt (Illinois Sta. 

 Bui. 212, ahs. {1919), pp. 7).— This is an abstract of Bulletin 212 of the station 

 (E. S. R., 40, p. 423). 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



Plant physiology, R. C. Knight {Sci. Prog. [London], 13 {1919), No. 52, pp. 

 561-566). — This is a review of recently published investigation and opinion 

 bearing upon transpiration and related activities and conditions in plants. 



Plant physiology, V. H. Blackman {Sci. Prog. [London], 13 {1918), No. 49,- 

 pp. 49-53). — This is chiefly a review of the data reported by Coous (E. S. R., 

 34, p. 647), with interpretative comments. 



Plasmolysis of epidermal cells in petals of tulip, A. Guilliekmond {Compt. 

 Rend. Soc. Biol. [Paris], 81 (1918), No. 8, pp. 427-431, figs. i2).— Studies pre- 

 viously noted (E. S. R., 39, p. 734) as carried on with Iris gennanira have 

 been repeated with Tulipa suaveolens, which is in some respects even more 

 favorable to the demonstration of certain structures and changes. The phe- 

 nomena as detailed are said to be fairly comparable with those described in 

 the previous account. 



The activation of buds in the Compositse, G. Bohn {Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol. 

 [Paris], 81 {1918), No. 8, pp. 440-442).—lt is claimed that forcing growth of 

 buds by employment of any one or more of different factors (as etherization, 

 etc.) may produce results of the most various kinds in different species. The 

 operation of these factors may be dependent upon the characters of such 

 factors, and independent of the quantity or quality of the nutriment placed 

 at the disposal of the plants. 



Bud formation of plant hypocotyls, F. R. Clark {Ann. Rpt. Mich. Acad. 

 Sci., 20 {1918), p. 146). — Seedlings of various kinds which do not usually pro- 

 duce buds along the internode of the hypocotyl were deprived of their tops 

 just below the cotyledons, leaving only the internode of the hypocotyl above 

 the ground. Practical regeneration of the top occured in Solanum dulcamara. 

 The arrangement of the parts of the new top was similar to that of normal 

 plants grown in the same pots. 



Study of the artificial absorption of glucose by the mulberry tree through 

 its aerial parts, C. Acq^a (Ann. R. Scuoki Siip. Agr. Portici. 2. ser., 14 (1916- 

 17), pp. 8, pi. 1, figs. 2). — Sununarizing results of earlier studies (E. S. R., 36, 



