30 EXPEBIMENT STATION RECORD. 



to favor nitrification in soils and foliar development of plants. Soil naturally 

 or artificially supplied with nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potassium, and lime 

 is always improved by the presence, even in minute quantity, of radioactive 

 substance. 



Some recent studies on germination, E. Lehmann (Ztschr. Bot., 5 {1913), 

 No. 5, pp. 365-377). — This is a brief account of studies on the factors influ- 

 encing germination, with references to several recent articles. 



Germination of potato, E. Couvbeub {Compt. Retid. Soc. Biol. [Pa?is], 74 

 {1913), No. 23, pp. 1315-1317). — As the result of a study of potatoes during 

 germination, the author states that both maltose" and a ferment are present 

 from the beginning of that process, the latter being active in all tissues after 

 a certain age is attained. It is stated that analogous facts have been noted 

 in case of beans and chestnuts, and that publication of these is contemplated. 



Transpiration and osmotic pressure in mangroves, F. C. von Fabee {Ber. 

 Deut. Bot. Oesell, 31 {1913), No. 6, pp. 277-281).— The author states, as the 

 result of his studies, that the high osmotic pressure in the cells of mangroves 

 is due to the storing of salts and other osmotically important substances, in 

 some cases probably tannic acid. Such accumulation is not a function of 

 transpiration but a specific character of the plant, as held by Fitting (E. S. R., 

 25, p. 430) to be true of desert plants. 



The distribution of temperature in living plants, G. Dupont {Rev. 04n. 

 Soi., 24 {1913), No. 11, pp. 418-425, figs. i5).— This is essentially the same 

 article as previously reported (E. S. R., 28, p. 126). 



Wind and the plant world; a study, G. H. Kroll {Bot. CentU., Beihefte, 

 SO {1913), 1. AU., No. i, pp. 122-140).— This is a discussion of the direct and 

 the indirect influence of wind on plant life in or near large bodies of water or 

 on continental areas, including in the former case wave action, nutritive or 

 noxious solutions, seed transportation, etc., and in the latter case injury in 

 exposed situations through breakage, increased transpiration, etc., or further- 

 ance through such agents as seed distribution and rain production. 



The presence and persistence of hydrocyanic acid in some grains in hot 

 regions, L. Raybaud {Compt. Rend. Soc. Biol. [Paris], 7^ {1913), No. 19, pp. 

 1116, 1117). — It is stated that studies with 26 varieties of sorghum in north 

 and west Africa and India, and 2 species of Eleusine in India, have shown 

 that even under conditions of irrigation, etc., unfavorable to its accumulation, 

 hydrocyanic acid occurs in considerable quantity in the young plants and that 

 later it migrates to the higher portions where it may be found until the 

 maturation of the grain, after which it slowly disappears. This result is re- 

 garded as corroborative of the conclusion reached by Treub (E. S. R., 23, 

 p. 330) regarding the role played by hydrocyanic acid in plant growth. 



Demonstration and localization of nitrates and nitrites in plants, R. 

 Klein {Bot. CentU., Beihefte, 30 {1913), 1. AM., No. 1, pp. 14I-I66, pis. 2).— 

 The author reports that nitric salts are usually found in herbaceous plants. 

 Nitrites were not found in the sap of Fuchsia as exuded under root pressure, 

 but they develop apparently as the result of bacterial and fungal activity. 

 They do not appear ordinarily in underground portions of Sagittaria sagitti- 

 folia and Pisum. They are demonstrable in potato tubers only before sprout- 

 ing, but they are found in expressed leaf sap of Erythrina and in root nodules 

 of some Leguminosae, being quite abundant in case of Phaseolus miiltiflorus. 



A bibliography is given. 



On the alleged connection between assimilation of nitric acid and deposit 

 of manganese in plants, Elsa Houtebmans {Sitzber. K. Akad. Wiss. [Vietma'], 

 Math. Natiirw. KI., 121 {1912), I, No. 8, pp. 801-831, pis. 2).— The author, giv- 

 ing tabulated results of some recent investigations, states that she was unable 



