140 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOKD. 



The respiration of living and dead plants was compared, and this function 

 was found to vary with the different extractives, the depression depending upon 

 the proportion of phosphorus in the extractives. The action of the lipoids is 

 held to be due to their phosphorus content. 



Nuclear phenomena of sexual reproduction in algae, B. M. Davis {Amer. 

 Nat., 44 (1010), No. 525, pi). 513-532). — In a paper read before the Botanical 

 Society of America, the author discusses the present status of our knowledge 

 concerning the nuclear phenomena of sexual reproduction in algse. 



Nuclear phenomena of sexual reproduction in fungi, R. A. Harper (Amer. 

 Nat., 4^ (1910), No. 525, pp. 533-546). — In a paper read before the Botanical 

 Society of America, the author summarizes the results of recent investigations 

 on sexual reproduction in fungi. 



The chemistry of the higher fungi. V, The maize smut (Ustilago may- 

 dis), J. Zellner {Monatsh. Chem., 31 (1910), No. 6, pp. 617-634) .—The results 

 are given of a series of tests on the chemical substances found in the dried 

 spores of U. maydis. Twenty-four substances were found, including oleic acid, 

 fixed fatty acids, volatile fatty acids, lecithin, glycerin, 2 resins, sclerotinic acid, 

 phlobaphene, tannin, mannit. erythrite, glucose, trimethylamin, ustilagin, a 

 gummy carbohydrate, a carbohydrate soluble in alcohol, a chitinous substance, 

 albuminoid substances, an invert ferment, a fat splitting ferment, and amanitol. 



The chemistry of the higher fungi. VI, The chemical relation between 

 the higher parasitic fungi and their host, J. Zellnee (Monatsh. Chem., 31 

 (1910), No. 6, pp. 635-641). — In discussing the chemical composition of sym- 

 bionts it is stated that the chemical constituents of host and parasite are usu- 

 ally very different, although the substance from the host passes over unchanged 

 into the parasite, where it is quickly changed to a different substance, depending 

 on the type of parasite and its substratum. The interaction of the 2 symbionts 

 on each other may result in one of three things: (1) The fungus may draw its 

 nutriments from the substratum (host) and leave therein another substance 

 useful to the host as in Mycorrhiza, fungi, and lichens; (2) the fungus may sap 

 its host without leaving either a beneficial or a noxious substance; or (3) the 

 fungus may iwison its host as do certain bacteria, Claviceps purpurea, etc., by 

 leaving certain injurious substances in the substratum. As to the chemical 

 processes that occur in these fungi, but very little is definitely known. 



The behavior of bacteria in a nitrous oxid atmosphere, A. Maassen and 

 ScHONEWALD (MUt. K. Biol. Anst. Land u. Porstw., 1910, No. 10, pp. 32-34). — 

 The results are briefly given of culture experiments in an atmosphere of nitrous 

 oxid, with Actinomyces rosaceus, Azotobactcr chroococctim, root tubercle bac- 

 teria. Bacillus prospollcns, B. pyocyaneus, B. sabtilis, Bacterium coli commune, 

 Vibrio phosphorescens, an anaerobic spore- forming bacillus from cow manure, 

 and the bacteria of a garden soil. It was found that the nitrous oxid was not 

 injurious to any of these bacteria, but at the same time there was no evidence 

 that any of them was able to obtain its needed oxygen or nitrogen from it. 



Nitrogen gain and loss in cultivated soils, A. Koch (Mitt. Deut. Landw. 

 Gesell., 25 (1910), No. 12, pp. 173-175; abs. in Centbl. Bakt. [etc.], 2. Abt., 27 

 (1910), No. 22-25, pp. 633, 63-^).— The author discusses the gain or loss in fixed 

 nitrogen in the utilization of sodium nitrate by soil bacteria and the value of 

 cellulose as a source of energy for nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 



It was shown that if the soil is very damp free nitrogen will be liberated 

 from the nitrate of soda, but in well-drained and aerated soils this nitrate will 

 be utilized in forming albuminoid nitrogen by the bacteria. It was found that 

 cellulose as well as sugar and starch was available as a source of energy in 

 nitrogen fixation, as was evidenced by an experiment in which from 100 gm. 



