528 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOED. 



Sugar is also present iu considerable anioniit. hut aldehyde or ketone, while 

 present, exists in relatively small amounts. 



The author investigated the occurrence of phaseolunatiu in the leaves of 

 Phaseolus lunatus and found that this substanc(>. which has been reported by 

 Dunstan et al. (E. S. R., 19, p. 129) in the seed of the Java bean, also occurs in 

 consideral)le quantity in the leayes of that plant. 



A study of yeasts from California grapes, H. C. Holm (California Sta. Bui. 

 197, pp. IG'J-llo). — A study was made of S varieties of yeasts obtained originally 

 from California grapes which were either sent to the experiment station or pur- 

 chased in the local market. The experiments were carried on with the intention 

 of determining the amount of alcohol which the various yeasts were- able to 

 form in sugar solutions, and whether the yeasts occurring on California grapes 

 consisted of types which might be depended upon in wine making. 



The yeasts were all used in pure cultures. The results show that most of 

 the yeasts found on California grapes grown in regions remote from wine-mak- 

 ing operations are inactive as regards the formation of alcohol, and many of 

 them are detrimental to the wines. Most of the varieties impart an unpleasant 

 flavor and taste, and the general characteristics do not favor the production of 

 a soimd wine of good quality. The author recommends the repression of the 

 growth of these organisms and the introduction and application of jnire yeast in 

 California wineries. 



[Report of the] department of botany, H. L. Bolley (North Dakota Sta. 

 Rpt. 1907, pt. 1, pp. .'/J-7C). — An outline report is given of the work carried on 

 by the department of botany of the station during 1907 and of the different 

 lines of investigation. Notes on the North Dakota fungi, by F. J. Seaver. and 

 a list of plants observed in the Willistou area, by W. B. Bell, are included in 

 the rei)ort. 



The author gives an account of his work on seed breeding in reference to 

 crop disease and states that the studies on the resistance of immune flax have 

 progressed to a point where it is desirable to test different varieties under field 

 conditions. For this purpose small amounts of seed were distributed in the 

 spring of 1908 for cooperative trial by farmers in different parts of the State. 



Seeds and plants imported during the period from July, 1906, to Decem- 

 ber 31, 1907. Inventory No. 13 (U. ,S'. T)rpt. Agr.. Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 

 132, pp. 192). — This inventory represents the acquisitions of the Office of Seed 

 and Plant Introduction between July 1, lOOfi. and Deceml)er 31. 1007. It con- 

 tains 2.672 items, the seeds and plants being introducetl for experimental pur- 

 poses. Among the more important collections mentioned are those of F. N. 

 Meyer, in northern China, and N. E. Hansen, in northern Europe and Siberia. 

 More attention than formerly is now being paid to the introduction of small 

 collections which are imported for the specific purpose of being used in connec- 

 tion with plant breeding exiieriments. and a considerable number of varieties 

 of seeds and plants from different parts of the world have been secured for this 

 purpdse. In addition to the names of the plants, brief accounts are given as 

 to their habits of growth, uses. etc. 



A catalogue of the poisonous plants of Iowa, L. H. Pammel and Estelle 

 D. FoGEL (Proc. loica Acad. .So/., l.'t (1907), pp. U7-176, charts J,). — A list is 

 given of 275 species of plants reputed to be poisonous that have been found in 

 Iowa or suspected to occur in that State. In connection with most of them, 

 notes are given regarding the distribution of the plants, the active principle, 

 where it is definitely known, and the effects produced upon animals which have 

 eaten the plants in injurious quantities. 



