532 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



A study of wheat showed that in milk-ripe wheat seeds only very small 

 amounts of uonproteid nitrogen could be detected. Monamino fatty acids were 

 found, and arginin seemed to be present, but no asparagin was found. 



Unsuccessful attempts were made to detect in the unripe seeds of peas and 

 beans an enzym capable of producing ammonia from asparagin. 



The role of the endodermis in the absorption of salts in the plant, J. de 

 RuFz DE Lavison {Rev. G6n. Bot., 22 (1910), No. 258, pp. 225-21,1, figs. 6).— 

 A study has been made of the role of the endodermis of the root in relation to 

 the absorption of certain salt solutions by the plant. Two types of roots were 

 experimented with — peas, which have no suberized endodermis, and hyacinths, 

 which have a well differentiated suberized endodermis. Solutions were em- 

 ployed some of which are unable to penetrate living protoplasm and others 

 which penetrate both cellulose and protoplasm. 



Ammonium sulphocyanid was found not to be arrested but to penetrate the 

 living protoplasm. This same property is possessed by many salts, especially 

 nitrates, alkaline chlorids, etc. On the other hand, iron sulphate does not 

 penetrate beyond the endodermis, the suberized tissues of which retard it. 

 Other solutions are more or less absorbed by the cortex but do not penetrate 

 to the living part of the root. 



The selective role of roots in the absorption of salts, J. de Rufz de Lavison 

 (Compt. Rend. Acad. 8ci. [Paris], 151 {1910), No. 16, pp. 615-611).— In con- 

 tinuation of the experiments described above, the author tested the absorptive 

 power of stems with and without roots, and as a result of his investigations he 

 claims that stems absorb solutions indiscriminately, the roots alone seeming to 

 possess a selective power toward certain salts in solution. 



The influence of some artificial oxydases and of some metallic compounds 

 on the growth of wheat, V. Nazaei {Atti R. Accad. Lincei, Rend. CI. Sci. Fis., 

 Mat. e Nat., 5. ser., 19 {1910), II, No. 1, pp. 861-361).— The author reports a 

 study on the germination of wheat in the presence of manganese dioxid, of 

 iron sesquioxid, of both with organic matter added, and of an artificial oxydase, 

 as well as the yield in grain as influenced by the presence of oxids of manganese 

 and iron. The grains in each case were rolled in a paste of the respective 

 substances, then planted, and the rate of germination and yield recorded. 



The seeds rolled in the artificial oxydase showed the greatest energy in 

 germination; those in the presence of the manganese had an appreciable accel- 

 eration; the presence of organic matter decreased the action of the manganese; 

 while the other two substances had no influence on germination. 



The seeds treated with the manganese paste gave an increased yield both in 

 straw and grain over the check plats, while those treated with sesquioxid of iron 

 paste showed no gain. 



The resistance of wheat and barley grains to poisons, with special refer- 

 ence to seed sterilization, H. Schroeder {Ccnthl. Bald, [etc.], 2. Aht., 28 {1910), 

 No. 16-19, pp. 1,92-505). — A brief review is given of the results obtained by 

 different investigators on the effects of certain disinfectants on the germination 

 of the seeds and the relationship of the seed coat as to permeability, etc., to the 

 poisonous action on the embryo of the grain of the germicides used. 



The author reports the results of experiments on the action of ether, alcohol, 

 and chloroform on the germination of hulled and unhulled grains ; on the effects 

 of various strengths of alcoholic solutions on germination ; and on the germi- 

 cidal action of silver nitrate when used in seed disinfection and its effects on the 

 germination of the treated grain. 



In the experiments with the silver nitrate, the seeds of wheat and barley 

 were soaked in a 5 per cent solution of silver nitrate for from 18 to 24 hours, 



