28 BXPEEIMENT STATION EECOBD. 



Commercial fertilizers, J. S. bItrd {California 8ta. Bui. 240, pp. 55).— Analy- 

 ses and Valuations of fertilizers inspected during tlie year ended June 30, 1913, 

 are reported, and a list of registered fertilizer manufacturers and dealers in 

 California for the year beginning July 1, 1912, is given. It is estimated that 

 the sale of fertilizers in the State during the year ended June 30, 1912, was 

 50,955 tons. The indications are that the consumption during the year ended 

 June 30, 1913, was much less than this. 



AGRICTJLTTJRAL BOTANY. 



On the chemical org-anization of the cell, W. Ruhland {Biol. CentU,, SS 

 {1913), No. 6, pp. 337-351). — Continuing work noted in a previous report on the 

 permeability of the living plasma membranes (E. S. R., 28, p. 37) the author 

 here discusses the relation of the facts observed to the views of other investi- 

 gators, a number of which are discussed. 



The significance of the character of the electrical charge for the passage 

 of colloids through the plasma membrane, W. Ruhland {Ber. Deut. Bot. 

 Gescll., 31 {1913), No. 6, pp. 304-310). — Continuing the work noted above, the 

 author states that no difference was established between acid and basic color- 

 ing matters as to conditions and rapidity of passage through living plasma 

 membranes. Transpiration rate and electrical character have not been shown 

 to be influential as regards rapidity of passage, and widely different plants 

 show like behavior in these respects. These facts are held to support the au- 

 thor's view regarding the plasma membrane as an ultra-filter. 



Investigations on the fermentation of some cyclic series compounds and 

 the formation of the black material of humus, A. Perkier {Ann Sci. Agron., 

 4. ser., 2 {1913), I, Nos. 5, pp. 321-350; 6, pp. 455-470).— The author presents the 

 results of a study on the aerobic fermentation of bt^nzoic, oxybenzoic, and phenic 

 acids, and the role of cyclic compounds in the formation of the black coloring 

 matter of manures and humus. 



It was found that the cyclic compounds, particularly benzoic acid, which is 

 rather widely distributed in the animal and vegetable kingdom, serve as nutri- 

 ents for a large number of micro-organisms which are abundant in the soil. 



A detailed study of the biochemical phenomena showed that benzoic acid is 

 oxidized by Bacillus pyocyaneus and a number of other related organisms in a 

 neutral medium to a black coloring material analogous to that in humus. The 

 formation of this coloring matter is not considered due to tyrosinase, but should 

 be rather compared to that which is produced in the oxidation of polyphenols, 

 notably pyrogallol in an alkaline medium. This would indicate that the oxida- 

 tion is brought about by the aid of an oxidase, but the author was unable to 

 demonstrate the presence of a diastase associated with the phenomenon. 



In the second part of the paper an account is given of an extended study of 

 the formation of the coloring matter of manure and humus, which in every 

 case is attributed to the oxidation in an alkaline medium of cyclic compounds 

 contained in the manure or in plant materials in the process of decomposition. 



A brief bibliography is appended. 



The necessity of a bacterial association for the development of a myxo- 

 bacterium, Chondromyces crocatus, B. Pinoy {Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. IParis}, 

 157 {1915), No. 1, pp. 77, 78).— The author concludes from a study of G. crocatus 

 that this organism is not able to accomplish its development apart from its 

 association with a particular bacterium which is described and said to be closely 

 allied to Micrococcus latens. 



A mud sucking device for obtaining soil microflora and microfauna, B. 

 Pebfyl'ev {Izv. Imp. St. Peterb. Bot. Soda {Bui. Jard. Imp. Bot. St. Petersb.), 



