1122 KXPKHIMKNT STAIIOX IIKCORD. 



(if liiiK'. Tlio sliprlit iiuri'iisc in tlic ui:ij;m'siii cttiiU'ut in the iilnnts jrrown in the 

 sdliitidiis contMiiiinj: linii' iuid iiui^nesia is believed to be due to the protective 

 or neiitraliziiif: action of tlie linii'. 



The phosphorus nutrition of plants, Cavalier and Artus (Trav. Hci. Uiiir. 

 Rcnncs, 6 (1907). Xo. 1, pp. 132-13U). — A study was made of the availability of 

 different sources of phosphorus for the nutrition of maize grown in sand and 

 watered with nutrient solutions that varied only in the phosphorus compound 

 employed. 



In the cultures, which were maintained for 92 days, the same ;imount of 

 l)h()Si)liorns was added to each, the calculated quantity being 2.14 gm. The 

 various sources of phosphorus were sodium ortho|)hosphate, pyroijhosphate, 

 nietapliosiiliate. and phosphite as inorganic comi)oinids. and iiotassinm mono- 

 ethylphosphate, sodium diethylphosphate, triethylphosphate, and monoallylphos- 

 phate, and calcium glycerophosphate as organic compounds. The latter is said 

 to be a commercial preparation, while for the others the author made and 

 purified his own compounds. At the end of the experiment, the total weight, 

 ash, phosiihorus content, etc., for the different plants were determined. 



All the treated plants were better developed than the checks, except in the lot 

 where the glycerophosphate was used. This substance, or impurities which it 

 contained, proved injurious to all the plants, greatly reducing their develop- 

 ment. There was little or no difference in the proportion of phosphorus in the 

 dry matter of the different lots of plants, but where an actual increase in 

 phosphorus was noted, it was accompanied by an increased growth of the 

 plants, hence by greater dry weight. 



The experiments show that plants are not necessarily restricted to the ortho- 

 phosphoric acid salts for their phosphorus supplies, Ijut that maize is capable of 

 taking phosphorus from a number of other organic and inorganic compounds. 



Phosphorus and the formation of amino acids by the higher plants, F. 

 ScuRTi (^V(:. Chim. lUiL. SS iWOS). IL Xo. 2, pp. 272-27 J). —According to the 

 author, a correlation exists between the presence of phosphorus and the forma- 

 tion of proteids in the higher plants. This correlation is not limited to the 

 proteid nitrogenous bodies, but also pertains to the amino acid group of com- 

 pounds, and probably plays an important role in the synthesis of all albuminoid 

 substances in plants. 



The decomposition of sugar during the processes of respiration, P. B. 

 Jensen {Bcr. Deut. Bot. GeseU., 26a {1!>08), Xo. 9, pp. GGC,, 6-6"7).— The author 

 states that the decomposition of sugar during alcoholic fermentation is not a 

 single process but involves two stages. The intermediary product is said to 

 be dioxyacetone. In the process of decomposition the dextrose is broken down 

 into dioxyacetone, which may further change into carbon dioxid and alcohol, 

 or, by the addition of oxygen through the action of oxydase, into carbon dioxid 

 and water. 



On the " strength " and development of the grain of wheat, W. E. 

 Brenchley (Ann. Bot. [London], 23 (1909), Ao. 89, pp. 111-139, pU.2, figH.5).— 

 This investigation was inaugurated with a view to determining the question 

 of the " strength " of wheat from a biological standpoint. The term " strength," 

 according to the author, is by no means exactly defined, but for the purpose 

 of his investigation it is taken to indicate the capacity of wheat to produce a 

 large, well-piled loaf of bread. 



In the author's summary it is stated that no c.vtological differences can be 

 observed between wheat grains of different varieties, grown under similar con- 

 ditions, which produce flour of varying strengths, nor are there any differences 

 indicative of strength to be found in the developing grains of one variety of 

 wheat grown in the same field, under similar soil and climatic conditions, but 



