AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 1027 



part of the aspartic acid was forniod by swondary fliaiif^es from ja-odiicts of 

 protein degradation, whicli include lencin and lyrosin. 



Chemical changes due to the wounding of plants, K. Fkikdukh (('iiilbl. 

 Bakt. [cic], 2. Abt., 21 (1908), No. JO-12, pp. SSO-S.',!- Ji<J- '; "'^-s'- in Jour. Clicm. 

 Soc. [London], 'J.'i U908), No. 551, II, p. 777,). — After giving a resume of 

 previous investigations dealing with the increased evolution of carbon dioxid 

 and the increased production of protein, the author describes experiments with 

 potato tubers, oak leaves, onion bulbs, pear fruits, and other parts of plants, 

 which indicate that a fall in the carbohydrate content is correlated with in- 

 creased resiiiration in the portion of the plant under investigation. It was 

 found that the iirotein produced in wounded potatoes, onions, and pears de- 

 Iiended on the presence of a large amount of carbohydrates. In the case of oak 

 leaves there was a decrease in the total nitrogen and an increase in the proteid 

 and amid nitrogen following mutilation of the leaves, and in this respect the 

 fruits of the Japane.se quince and the leaves of Clivia gardncH behaved in a 

 similar manner. 



The observations of the author tend to support the view that protein is 

 formed from plants by a reaction between carbohydrate and amid material. 



The action of sulphur dioxid on plants, A. Wieler {Nat uric. Rundschau, 

 22 (1907), No. IS, p. 229; uhs. in Zcnthl. Ayr. Chcm., 37 (1908), No. 8, pp. 572, 

 573; Jour. Chcm. Soc. [London], 9', (1908), No. 552, II, p. SS7).— The author 

 shows that assimilation of carbon dioxid is profoundly influenced by the pres- 

 ence of sulphur dioxid, but respiration is not affected. An examination made 

 of leaves from districts where sulphur dioxid caused injury showed that this 

 substance was present in the leaf, although only in small quantities. When 

 the leaves were collected close to the source of the gas larger amounts were 

 found. The sulphur dioxid apparently enters through the stomata and causes 

 greater injury in wet thau in dry weather. 



There is some evidence that other factors come into play besides the direct 

 action of sulphur dioxid in the leaf. As the soils in the district where the 

 injury arises are decidedly acid, it is believed that the injury could be over- 

 come to a considerable extent by the use of suitable fertilizers and in particular 

 by liming the soil. 



A new group of plants containing hydrocyanic acid, M. Gresiioff (I'hann. 

 WeekhL, .',5 (1908), pp. 1165-1169; abs. in Jour. Pharm. et Chim., 6. scr., 28 

 (1908), No. 12, pp. 55.'i, 555). — Investigations made with Triylochin mariiUnum. 

 T. palustre, and Scheuchseria palustris, plants belonging to the natural order 

 .Juncaginacese, have shown that they contain hydrocyanic acid. The investiga- 

 tions nidicate that probably it exists in the form of a glucosid analogous to 

 liiiamarin. 



Centaurea aspera, a plant containing hydrocyanic acid, C. CJerber and 

 .1. CoTTE (Conipl. Kind. Hoc. Biol. [Paris], 65 (1908), No. 26, pp. 185, 186). — 

 While making a distillate from C. aspera, the authors were struck with the odor 

 of hydrocyanic acid, and an investigation showed the presence in difl'erent 

 Iiarts of the plant of a glucosid yielding it. The glucosid was found princi- 

 Iially in the green part of the i)lant, and in the basal leaves, which were dead 

 and dry. The amount varied from 0.S42 gm. per tliousand in the green leaves, 

 <i.<ilO ill entire young plants, and ().2r>2 in the dead Itasal leaves, to traces 

 in the old stems and ntots. The glucosid is probably identical with amygdalin. 



Seeds and plants imported during the period from April 1 to June 30, 1908. 

 Inventory No. 15 (11. ,S. Dcpt. At/r., Bur. riant Indus. Hal. l',2. pp. .S/).— This 

 is tile hfteenth inventory of seeds and plants imported by the Ollice of Foreign 

 Seed and Plant Introduction, comprising 812 numbers imported between the 



