\(.IM< l I.'l I K IL BOTANY. 541 



in the preparation of Bordeaux mixture not t<> use iron sulphate in connection with 

 the copper sulphate, a- the iron compound no1 only weakens tin- solution, I mi 

 increases its corrosive action. 'I'll.- use of t"" Btrong solutions i- aol to be advised, 

 as they not only injure through their corrosive action, but retard tin- metabolism of 

 the plant through the shutting -ft' of the - 1 1 r i ! i -_r 1 1 1 from tin- tissues of tin- leaves. 



In tin- connection tin- author criticises the recommendation ■>!' Schander thai \ per 

 crnt solutions of Bordeaux mixture should '»■ used on grapevines during bright 

 Beasons and weaker ones during cloudy seasons, a- it i- impossible to foretell what 

 the entire season will be. The use of solutions stronger than tin.-.- required to pre- 

 vent fungus attack- is also liable to cause permanent injury t<> the vines by i >r« »1 < > r i -_r- 

 ing their growth late into the period when killing frosts may be expected. A. 0.5 to 1 

 per cent solution of Bordeaux mixture will l><' found sufficiently strong for most 

 cases. 



The action of ether and chloroform on dry seeds, I'. Becqi erei [Compt. 

 Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 140 1905), No. 15, pp. 1049-1052). — On account of the differ- 

 ence of opinion regarding the action of ether and chloroform on dry seeds, the author 

 has made a study of tin- subject, in which previous experiments have been repeated 

 and a number of new investigations made. 



A. study was made of the effect of chloroform and ether in the liquid state The 

 Beeds examined were peas, lupines, clover, alfalfa, and wheat, and they were divided 

 into different lots, in one of which the ^v\\ coats remained intact, while in another 

 they were perforated. One lot was in the ordinary condition of stored seed, while 

 other lots were dried over chemicals until there was no further loss in weight. All 

 wen- placed in chloroform and ether on March 24, L904, and on March L'l', 1905, they 

 were taken from the flasks and spread upon filter paper t<> allow the liquids and 

 vapors to evaporate. 



They were then tested for germination, and the <{-vd of the pea.-, alfalfa, clover, 

 and lupine, whose seed coats remained intact, germinated after having been 363 

 day- in the chloroform and ether. In all cases where the seed coat had been perfo- 

 rated the seeds lost their germinating power. In addition the wheat, the integumenl 

 of which is permeable, was similarly affected. It seems that on dry seed, as long 

 as the seed coats remain impermeable, the liquids and vapors of chloroform ami ether 

 are without effect. 



The transformation of nitrogenous material during- the ripening- of seeds, 

 (r. A.m.kk {Compt Rend. A<-<i>L Sci. [Paris], 140(1905), No. 21, />/>. 1417-1419).— A 

 study is reported on the changes in the total, al hum moid, and amid nitrogen, etc., of 

 seeds of the white lupine during their ripening. 



Vegetable albumin, which is present in the seed, disappears rapidly upon germi- 

 nation. Legumin is also present in the seed, hut disappears after germination, 

 reappearing ami increasing in amount as the period of ripening advances. 



It is shown that the transformation of a nitrogenous material during the ripening of 

 the seed is the inverse of that which takes place during germination. Albumin 

 appears late during the period of ripening and disappears very speedily after the 

 beginning oi germination. Legumin makes its appearance earlier during ripening 

 ami persists in the ripe seed in larger quantity than albumin. 



The reserve carbohydrates of evergreen trees, Leclerc du Sablon [Compt. 

 Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], i',< I 1905), No. 24, />i>. 1608-1610).— The author has studied 

 at different time- oJ the year the reserve carbohydrates in the stem and roots of live 

 oak. Austrian pine, and Japanese euonymus. 



The carbohydrate content of the roots and stems of the live oak examined are 

 shown in tabular form, and comparisons are made with similar examinations of 

 chestnut stems and roots. In the case of the deciduous tree the maximum reserves 

 were present at the end of October when the leaves woe falling, and the minimum 

 took place in the spring when the new shoot- were beingrapidly developed. In the 



