BOTANY. 555 



In considering the effect of different wilts on the ash, the autiiors found that at the 

 beginning of phint growth the ash of the above-ground parts of the plants was more 

 alkaUne than the roots. As the plants developed the alkalinity of the ash of the 

 aerial parts of the plant decreased and that of the roots increased, until finally the 

 ash of the roots was decidedly more alkaline than that of the aerial organs. This 

 indicates that mineral salts in general increased the j^roportion of combined acids in 

 the aerial organs of the plant, while in the roots the differences are less noticeable. 



Influence of medium on the formation and evolution of perfumes by 

 plants, E. Charabot and A. IIebert {Coinpt. Raid. Acad. >S<yi. Parw, 136 {1903), No. 

 26, pp. 1678-1680). — The results of a study on the effect of different culture media in 

 the production of perfume by plants are reported, in which it is shown that whatever 

 stimulates the transpiration and chlorophyll functions of the plant favors the evolution 

 of perfumes. 



Influence of formaldehyde on the growth of white mustard, Bouilhac and 

 GiusTiNiANi {Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 136 {1903), No. 19, pp. 1155-1157). — 

 Experiments were conducted to discover whether one of the higher plants would be 

 able to directly assimilate formaldehyde. 



White mustard was grown in flasks placed in a greenhouse in such a way as to 

 receive a very feeble illumination. The object of this was to cut off as much as 

 possible the carbon dioxid assimilation of the plant, and as a possible substitute a 

 few drops of formaldehyde were added to the different flasks. After a few days the 

 plants did not seem to suffer from the poisonous action of the formaldehyde, and 

 under the conditions of the experiment the formaldehyde rapidly disappeared. 



After carrying on the experiments for some time and com})aring the plants with 

 normally grown sjiecimens, it was concluded that traces of formaldehyde were not 

 injurious to the white mustard, and that that substance could be assimilated by it 

 and serve as a source of carbohydrates where there was an insufficiency of light for 

 the chlorophyll assimilation. In a repetition of the experiment, in which the 

 amount of light was still more reduced, all the plants died, showing that a certain 

 amount of light is necessary for the white mustard to assimilate formaldehyde. 



On the nutrition of plants deprived of their cotyledons, G. Andre {Compt. 

 Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris, 136 {1903), Nos. 23, pp. 1401-1404; 25, pp. 1571-1573) .—The 

 results of experiments on the nutrition of bean seedlings deprived of their cotyledons 

 are given. An equal number of seedlings were planted under similar conditions, the 

 only difference being that one lot had had their cotyledons removed. After growing 

 for some time the plants were carefully examined and their fresh weight and dry 

 matter determined. 



One hundred plants grown under normal conditions increased in weight 129.17 gm., 

 while an equal number of plants without their cotyledons increased only 51.54 gm. 

 The increase in ash, water, etc., is shown. The principal difference was found in 

 the organic matter which was formed by the chlorophyll in the plant, the gain for 

 the plants possessing their cotyledons ))eing more than double any of the others. 



The nutrition of tissues in plant galls, C. Houakd {Compt. Rend Acad. Sci. 

 Paris, 136 {1903), No. 24, pp. 1489-1491). — Attention is called to the abnormal con- 

 dition of the tissues in galls produced by various insects. These tissues are formed 

 by numerous cells which are rich in protoplasm and nutrient material, and they 

 serve to a considerable extent for the nutrition of the parasite. The modifications 

 produced in the fibrovascular bundles to provide for the nutrition of these tissues 

 liave l)een investigated, and in the present paper the author reports ui)on some of 

 the modifications. 



If the parasite is an external one, such as the scale insect or some of the Hemip- 

 tera, the fibrovascular bundles are greatly hypertrophied and the ])hloem is greatly 

 developed in the vicinity of the parasite. If the gall-producing animal lives in the 



17672— No. 6—04 3 



