A.GBICULTUBAL BOTANY. 347 



Attention is called to the advisability from the standpoint of economy of purchas- 

 ing only high-grade fertilizers, and it is stated thai "ii is an utter waste of monej to 

 purchase potash or ammonia in fertilizers containing less than I percent of tl 

 ingredients." 



Analyses of commercial fertilizers and Paris green, \\ . 0. Sti BBS and C. II. 

 O'Rourkb {Louisiana Stas. Bui. 80, /. sex., pp. 104)- This bulletin is a detailed 

 report on the fertilizer and Paris green inspection in Louisiana during the season 

 1903 I. It includes also the texl of the State fertilizer law and the lav« of 1904 relat- 

 ing to Paris green. Genera] notes <>n the nature, purchase, and valuation of 

 fertilizers arc included. 



Inspection and analyses of commercial fertilizers on sale in the State, 

 \Y. 1". 1I\ni> et \i. {Mississippi Sta. Bui. 85, pp. 81). Analyses and valuations of 

 280 Bamples of fertilizers examined during the season of L903 l are reported, with 

 brief notes on the general results of inspection and on valuation, and the text of the 

 state fertilizer law as amen. led in 1904 to provide for the branding of fertilizers \\ itli 



reference to their grade. 



Analyses and valuations of fertilizers, J. P. Street, W. P. Allen, and V. J. 

 Carbebjh I New Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1904, />/'■ 43-98). — This is a reprint of matter con- 

 tained in Bulletins 176 and 177 of the station (E. S. R., 16, pp. 556, 7»il >, with the 

 addition of a lisl of manufacturers whose goods were sampled and analyzed during 

 L904, and data relating to the wholesale prices of fertilizing materials in New York 

 during different months of the year L903 and valuations for 1 ( .»»)4. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



Physiological investigations on young shoots of the grape, E. Griffon 

 Rev. Vit., .' '/ {1905), No. 607, pp. Ill 122). On account of the common practice of 

 topping vines to promote fruit fulness, the author investigated the physiology of the 

 subject. 



It has been held by many that the presence of starch in the young growth is an 

 indication that these shoots are living a sort of parasitic life at the expense of the 

 remainder of the plant. The author studied the photosynthesis of the plant in rela- 

 tion to the age of different parts, the principal investigations being made with -rape-. 

 although a number of other economic plants were included in his studies. He claims 

 that the presence of starch in a young rapidly growing shoot is uot an indication of 

 the ability on the part of the shoot to fix carbon dioxid, nor can it be considered 

 as a measure of the energy of photosynthesis. 



The absence of Starch, on the other hand, does not indicate that a part of a plant 

 is incapable of carbon dioxid assimilation. The suppression of the extremities of the 

 vine is n<»t correctly based on the ground of their being parasites, as there was found 

 little evidence of such a habit of growth. The young leaves were found capable of 

 assimilating carbon dioxid immediately after their expansion. The true explanation 

 of the beneficial action of topping is that this process establishes a beneficial equi- 

 librium between the remaining foliage and the forming fruit. 



Recent investigations on the role of hydrocyanic acid in green plants, 

 M. Tredb \.\nn. Jard. Urn. Buitenzorg, .'. ser., ', I 1904), pt. ■'. />/>■ 86-147, pi 

 Investigations by the author and others have shown the frequent occurrence of 

 hydrocyanic acid in various tropical plants, it- formation seeming t" be dependenl 

 upon the simultaneous presence in parts of the plant of carbohydrates and inorganic 

 compounds of nitrogen, probably in the form of nitrates. 



When these conditions are present hydrocyanic acid is formed and the theory has 

 been evolved that hydrocyanic acid is the firsl recognizable nitrogen compound in 

 the plant, if not the firsl nitrogen compound actually formed by the plant. Among 

 the plants reported as containing hydrocyanic acid was Phaseolus lunatus | E. S. EL, 



