328 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED, 



after the mustard was harvested there was no appreciable difference in the 

 niti'ogen content of the two soils. 



The addition of sugar to the soils increased the nitrogen gain in each, but 

 not more so in the mustard than in the plant-free soil. 



The influence of fertilizers on straw {Rev. Sci. [Pat-is], J/S {1910), II, No. Ut, 

 J)]). J/SS, Ji39). — This is a note on a review by J. Kissel of investigations by 

 Vogeler and Thiele on the effect of various combinations of nitrogen, phosphoric 

 acid, and potash on the growth of plants. 



It was found that phosphoric acid thickened the cell walls and reduced the 

 size of the cells, thus increasing the density of the straw. The opposite effect 

 was produced by nitrogenous fertilizers. The results with potash on oats and 

 grasses were inconclusive. Lime produced the same effect as nitrogen but to 

 a less degree. The combined action of these four constituents thickened the 

 cell walls but increased the size of the cells. A complete, well-balanced fer- 

 tilizer produced better results as regards the cell structure than one-sided 

 fertilizing. 



The effect of various salts on the respiration of plants and upon respira- 

 tory enzyms, W, Zaleski and A. Reinhaed {Biochem. Ztschr., 27 {1910), No. 

 5-6, pp. 450~Jf73). — The authors state that the effect of various common salts 

 on the activity of plants depends upon a number of factors, and they report a 

 study of the action of potassium nitrate, dipotassium phosphate, disodium phos- 

 phate, calcium nitrate, potassium carbonate, magnesium sulphate, etc., on the 

 respiration and respiratory enzyms of wheat, maize, peas, rape, and lupines, 

 comparing the respiration of the plants grown in distilled water with those 

 receiving varying amounts of the salts in solution. 



In nearly every instance a depressing effect of the salt was noticed in the 

 lowered respiration of the seedlings. In a similar way the effect of the neutral 

 salts lowered the action of the enzyms, reductase, catalase, and zymase. 



The authors hold that their exjlpriments show that the salts in nutrient 

 solutions have no stimulating effect on the respiratory enzyms of seeds and that 

 whatever stimulation is exerted is due to other causes. Their effect is held 

 to be an indirect one. Some, acting on the hydrolytic ferments, assist in the 

 breaking down of the proteids and carbohydrates, while others assist in the 

 synthesis of the protoplasm in the cells. 



The action of ultraviolet rays on plants containing coumarin and also 

 plants whose odor is due to the splitting' of glucosids, Pougnet {Compt. Bend. 

 Acad. Sci. [Paris], 151\ {1910), No. 12, pp. 566-569). — Experiments were carried 

 on with a quartz mercury lamp to test the action of ultraviolet rays on Meli- 

 lotus, Asperula. Anthoxauthum, and Herniaria, which are characterized by the 

 odor of coumarin, and on cress, horseradish, radish, and the leaves of cherry 

 laurel, which owe their characteristic odor to the splitting of the glucosids 

 contained in them. 



The action of the ultraviolet rays soon resulted in the appearance of the 

 characteristic odor In all the plants. The cells were found to be killed by the 

 light rays, while the ferments remained active. In this respect the action of 

 ultraviolet rays is said to be comparable with that of other agents which induce 

 changes following the death of the cell. 



The exchange of gases during the formation and destruction of antho- 

 cyanin, R. Combes {Bcv. Gen. Bot., 22 {1910), No. 257, pp. 177-212).— A pre- 

 liminary account of the author's investigations on the exchange of gases in 

 the leaves of plants during the formation and disappearance of red coloring 

 matter in the leaves has already been noted (E. S. R., 23, p. 52S). In the 

 present paper a full account is given of the experiments in which he studied 

 the correlation between oxygen and anthocyaniu in Rumex, CEnothera, Allan- 



