AGRICULTURAL BOTANY, 1121 



acids, etc., are described. Tlie jiutlior concludes with a discussion of cliloro- 

 pliyll and its relation to hemoglobin. 



Some problems and results of a study of the mechanics of plant anatomy, 

 E. KisTEK (i'rog. Bot., 2 {I90H). \o. ',. pp. .',55-558, Jigs. ^//).— The author 

 discusses some of the problems of cell and tissue develoimient in plants, the 

 |)aper being based upon lectures given at the University of Halle in 1907. The 

 literature of the subject is quite extensively reviewed. 



The effects of variations in the inorganic salts and the reactivity of the 

 external medium upon the nutrition, growth, and cell division in plants 

 and animals, 15. Moore, H. E. Roaf, and R. E. Knowles {Bio-Chem. Jour., S 

 ( I DOS), No. 6-8, pp. 279-312, pis. '/). — The results of experiments with acid and 

 alkaline salts on the growth, coll division, etc., of various plants, and their 

 eftec-ts on certain animals are described. The inorganic salts used were sodium 

 hydrate, hydrochloric acid, potassium hydrate, sodium carbonate and bicar- 

 bonate, monosodium i)hosphate. and disodium phosphate. The plants experi- 

 mented with were hyacinths and onions, the various solutions being made up 

 on the basis of gram-molecular strengths. 



Marked effects were produced upon the dividing cells of plant rootlets by 

 small variations in the alkalinity or acidity of the medium. The range of 

 ionic concentrations compatible ',/ith plant growth was a very narrow one. 

 Short of the lethal dose there was found a marked stimulation by the alkali 

 which was not found with the acid. The kation present appeared to have a 

 specific effect, and potassium was more stimulating than sodium to both rootlets 

 and foliage leaves. The phosphatic anion had a special effect upon the tlower, 

 causing an increase in size at optimum strength. At higher concentrations, 

 irregular inflorescences with packed florets on dwarfed stalks were obtained. 



The cytological effects of the different inorganic salts were studied, and there 

 was found to be an absence or depression of nuclear division with the acid, and 

 a thickening of cell walls. With the alkalis there was an increase in nuclear 

 division, changes in chromosomes, and the cell outlines became obscured. 



Both acid and alkaline phosphates at optimum concentrations caused in- 

 creased growth in amphibia. In the case of the alkaline salts, higher concen- 

 trations resulted in death, preceded by a stage of hyper-excitability. 



The effect on mammals showed that either alkaline or acid phosphates in the 

 proportion of 0.26 to 0..38 gm. per kilogram of body weight caused an increased 

 metabolism with diminishing body weight, and finally death. 



The distribution of the indispensable inorganic nutrients in bean seed- 

 lings, II, L. VON PoRTHEiM and M. Samec {Flora, U'J {I'JOO). Xo. 3, pp. 2(>0- 

 27f;).—ln a previous pul)!ication (E. S. R., 19, p. 426), the distribution of the 

 more essential inorganic substances in bean seedlings when grown in Knop's 

 solution with and without lime was shown. In the present paper an account is 

 given of the distribution of these same compounds in bean seedlings with refer- 

 «'nce to the calcium and magnesium ratios. Analyses are reported showing the 

 tlry weight; ash; percentage of lime, magnesia, potash, phosphoric acid, sul- 

 phuric acid, chlorin, and iron oxid in the ash; and the weight of lime, magnesia, 

 potash, and phosphoric acid in the ash of 250 of the seedlings. The data are 

 grouped to sliow the amount of these different compounds in seedlings grown in 

 distilled water and in normal solutions of the nitrates of lime and magnesia and 

 various mixtures of these conii)ounds. 



The plants became diseased when grown in distilled water and in the solutions 

 containing magnesium nitrate, the roots being stunted, browned, and often 

 rotten. A mixture of the two compounds in the nutrient solution resulted in an 

 increase in tic anionnt of magnesia taken up and a reduction in the proportion 



8880(J— Xo. 12—09 3 



