AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 629 



Development and nutrition of the embryo, seed, and carpel in tlie date, 

 F. E. Lloyd (Mo. Bot. Gard. Ann. Rirl., 21 (1910), pp. 103-lGJi. pis. J(, figs. 2).— 

 Studies are reported on the anatomy and histology of the seed and carpel of 

 the date and on the roles of tannin, starch, oil, and reserve cellulose in its 

 development. 



Starch was found to play a very brief role, only traces of it being present 

 after the seventh week of the development of the embryo. Tannin, of which 

 the author recognizes two forms, appears in the embryo throughout the entire 

 period of its development. Aplastic tannin appears in certain cells and re- 

 mains permanently, while plastic tannin undergoes translocation and seems to 

 be the principal nutrient used during the younger stages of development. The 

 aplastic tannin is considered a waste product. Oil appears in the endosperm, 

 reaching a maximum, after which there is a gradual reduction until the 

 secretion of reserve cellulose has advanced to a considerable extent. Oil then 

 accumulates until the resting period is reached, and during germination it is 

 digested before passing to the embryo. The digestion of the primary cell walls 

 occurs near the embryo, the digestive ferments being secreted entirely by it. 



The respiration of barley during germination, with special reference to 

 the protein content, B. Abkahamsohn {Wclmschr. Brau., 21 (1910), Nos. Jfl, 

 pp. 589, 590; 48, pp. 602-605, figs. 2; J,9, pp. 613-615; 50, pp. 627-629; 51, pp. 

 688-6^0, (Igms. 2). — A report is given of experiments conducted to determine 

 the effect of sterilization and protein content on the respiration of germinating 

 barley. Sterilized grain was found to respire less abundantly than nonsteri- 

 lized, and the respiration of small grain was greater than that of large seed. 

 The greater the protein content of the samples of barley the higher was their 

 respiration. 



The synthetic formation of asparagin by plants, D. N. Prianishnikov 

 and I. S. Shulov (Zhiir. Opijtn. Agron. (Riiss. Jour. Expt. Landiv.), 11 (1910), 

 No. 4. PP- 533-5^3). — Experiments have been conducted to determine the ability 

 of plants to form asparagin from ammonium compounds. 



In the first series which was carried on with peas, a 0.1 per cent solution of 

 ammonium chlorid not only checked growth and protein metabolism but also 

 prevented the formation of asparagin. With barley, however, positive results 

 were obtained, asparagin evidently being synthetically formed from the ammo- 

 nium compound. Later experiments showed that the solution of ammonium 

 chlorid was physiologically acid to peas, and when by the addition of calcium 

 carbonate this condition was corrected an undoubted synthesis of asparagin 

 took place. Similar results were obtained where calcium sulphate was added 

 to the nutrient solution. 



Trials of nitrogen-fixing organisms, G. T. Maxthouse (Ear per- Adams Agr. 

 Col. Joint Rpt. 190S, pp. 20, 21). — >The results are given of a series of experi- 

 ments with nitro-bacterine and another bacterial culture on beans, red clover, 

 peas, sweet peas, white clover, scarlet runner, sainfoin, and tomatoes, in which 

 the trials were carried out in open ground plats and in boxes of steamed sand 

 plunged in ashes in a large wire frame. 



The results obtained from both the open ground and box trials indicate that 

 on a barren soil the use of the cultures may be of some value, but that on 

 ordinary soil there is little benefit to be derived from either preparation. 



Concerning the physiological role of latex, C. Bernard {Ann. Jard. Bot. 

 Buitenzorg, 1910, Sup. 3, pt. 1, pp. 235-276, figs. ^). — A review is given of 

 various theories regarding the function of latex in plants, and the author de- 

 scribes his investigations with a number of species of plants which produce 

 latex. From the action of seedlings of these plants when grown in light and 



