834 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. IVol. 4i 



compared with untreated plants. The flowers hlossomed earlier, were produced 

 in greater profusion, and the total weight of the plants as well as the num- 

 ber and weight of the leaves were increased. 



Summing up the results of the experiments, as a whole, excessive carbon 

 dioxid dosage stimulates plant growth and consequently increases production, 

 both of total crop weight and of food nutrients. Carbon dioxid appears 

 to function much as does a commercial fertilizer and to be, to a greater or less 

 extent, a limiting factor in plant growth. Plants can use advantageously more 

 than normally occurs in the air. The chemical composition of plant life 

 is slightly, though not materially, changed by the stimulation of carbon 

 dioxid. The treated plants almost without exception show higher carbohydrate 

 and lower protein contents than do those grown under normal conditions. The 

 differences seldom exceed two or three per cent and are often less. 



The optimum amount of carbon dioxid for use in open boxes where disper- 

 sion is continuous appears to be determined in the main by the plant which 

 is under trial. Five tests were made with beans and nine with lettuce, the 

 gaseous dosage varying in amounts from nil to 348 liters. Lettuce seemed to 

 .stand and profit by a daily bath in nearly 300 liters of carbon dioxid. The 

 trials with beans were noted and classified, but the results indicate that the 

 optimum is somewhat lower than for lettuce. Continuity of supply seems to be 

 quite as important as its gi'oss amount. 



Is cooperative marketing' of horticultural products applicable to Illinois 

 conditions? J. W. Lloyd {Illinois Sta. Circ. 238 (1919), pp. 7). — A revision of 

 a paper presented before the Illinois State Horticultural Society on Decem- 

 ber 19, 1917, in which the aiithor concludes that fruits and vegetables grown 

 in Illinois for distant markets can be successfully marketed through coopera- 

 tive organizations of the growers. 



Some economic aspects of fruit and vegetable storage, J. W. Lloyd {Illi- 

 nois Sta. Circ. 237 {1919), pp. 8). — A revision of an address delivered before the 

 Illinois State Horticultural Society on November 21, 1918, in which the author 

 discusses the importance of storage, location of storage houses, size of towns 

 that should store apples, storage for local consumption in producing regions, 

 types of storage structures for apples, construction of an outdoor cellar, and 

 storage of potatoes and root crops. 



Olneya beans, O. F. Cook {.Jo^ir. Heredity, 10 {1919), No. 7, pp. 321-331, figs. 

 5). — The author gives an account of Olneya tesota, a leginninous tree of the 

 southwestern desert region, and calls special attention to the possibilities of 

 making practical food use of the natural supply of beans produced by these 

 trees. 



Studies on the biology and culture of superior mushrooms, G. Boyeb 

 (M^m. Sac. 8ci. Phys. et Wat. Bordennx, 7. ser., 2 {1918), pp. 233-3U, pis. 4, 

 figs. 20). — Part 1 of this work comprises a general exposition of germination 

 and cultural experiments with various species of superior mushrooms. Part 2 

 contains an account of the author's work with morels, notably Alorchella escu- 

 lenta, and investigations on the genus Psalliota. The results of cultural ex- 

 periments with various other mushrooms studied are also given. The more 

 important mushrooms are considered, with reference to germination of the 

 spores and early development of the mycelium, mycelium in its relation 

 with its active or inert substrata, relation of the sporifei'ous apparatus with 

 its mycelium and reciprocally, the development and method of growth of the 

 mushrooms, methods of culture, fertilizing and manuring, decay and disap- 

 pearance of mushrooms, and analytic composition. An extensive bibliography 

 on mushrooms is appended. 



