28 EXPERIMENT STATTOX TtEPOED. 



luoiv iutoiiso than on adjac-eiit lowlands, and that the difference is chiefly in 

 the refranjrible end of tlie spectrnni. 



("nltnros of ]ilants were made iiy (he writer, and when additional Idue-violet 

 li^ht was allowed to fall on the plants jxrowinj; in ordinary dayliiiht the plants 

 exliihil^ed a distinct response. The leaves were more hairy and the internodes 

 shorter than in the control series. 



It is believed probable that the character of the li«ht at his^h altitudes may 

 have a moridiojrenetic value differing; materially from that at low altitudes. 



The carbon assimilation of Penicillium, IT. IIassklisrino {Hot. ilnz., j}5 

 (IVOR), No. ,7, Pit. I7i;~li).>).— In order to .ira.in some kn<»wledse of Ihe comjjlex 

 problems of the assinnlation of some of the simider carbon compounds, the 

 author undertook a .series of experiments to study the effect of a number of 

 related compounds on the .ijrowth of mold fungi. P. ghiucmti was selected on 

 account of its omnivorous habits. To the inorganic medium in which it was 

 cultivated, alcohol, potassium ethyl sulphate, ethyl nitrate, ethyl acetate, jwtas- 

 siuni acetate, and acetic acid were added. The cultures were all made in 

 Erlenmeyer flasks of 200 cc. capacity, and the growth in the different media 

 determined. 



It was found that alcohol, acetic acid, and the substances from w^hich the 

 acetic acid radicle is readily derived are assimilated by P. gJaucum, In the 

 case of alcohol the addition of mineral acids stimulates growth, but nitric acid 

 produces greater stimulation than hydrochloric. The esters of alcohol with 

 nnneral acids were found valueless as sources of carbon, and their lack of nutri- 

 tive value was not due to any toxic properties. In general the substances which 

 possess the greater food value are those wdiich are most readily oxidized. 



A number of interesting observations incidental to the exiieriments are re- 

 ported. Among them, it is shown that, contrary to the current belief that sub- 

 stances which permit vigorous growth of mycelia are not suitable for the 

 germination of spoi'es, alcohol was not only vex'y favorable for growth, but 

 l)ermitted an abundant germination of spores. It was further noted that in none 

 of the cultures containing alcohol was there any production of spores by the 

 fungus. 



Another fact brought out was the great individual difference of resistance of 

 spores to deleterious agents. " In the lower concentration of all substances 

 fa^'orable for growth, practically all s])ores germinated, forming a dense mat- 

 like growth over the surface of the culture fluid. When, with increase of con- 

 centration, the substance bet-omes deleterious, germination and growth are not 

 stopped abrui>tly, but the ninnber of colonies l)ecomes fewer and fewer until the 

 final concentration is reachetl, where germination of even the most resistant 

 spores is inhibited. In most cases, where only a few colonies were formed, 

 these grew with unusual vigor, so that the total weight of the culture was often 

 as great as that of cultures of lower concentrations." 



Assimilation of zinc by Sterigmatocystis nigra, M. .Tavillikr (Compt. Rend, 

 Acad. Sei. [Prtri.s], ]J,6 (1908), Xo. 7, pp. ,?()5-.%*7).— The stimulating eft'ect of 

 dilute solutions of zinc when added to culture media in which N. iii<>ra is grown 

 has been reported. The author has curried on experiments to determine the 

 amount of zinc assimilated by this fungus, and he has found that where the 

 quantity of the metal does not exceetl 1 part to 250.000 of the culture media, all 

 the zinc is taken up by the fungus. Where a greater amount is added there is 

 a proportional diminution in the relative amount of zinc fixed by the fungus. 

 It seems that *9. nigra is able to assimilate without in.iur,v a quantity of zinc 

 equal to 1/1100 of its w^eight. 



Injury to vegetation and animal life by smelter wastes, J. K. Haywood 

 iU. S. Dcpt. Agr., Bur. Chcm. liul. J 13, pp. J/O, pl.s. S). — The results are given of 



