542 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



case of the live oak the maximum reserve was found in the spring of the year, while 

 the minimum occurred in midsummer. 



The Austrian pine gave similar results to those observed for the live oak, its maxi- 

 mum reserve being observed in May, after which there was a sharp reduction to a 

 minimum in July, With the Japanese euonymus, whose growth begins early in the 

 spring, the maximum reserve of carbohydrates was found to be in March, with the 

 minimum in August. 



The proteases of plants, II, S. II. Vines {Ann. BoL, 19 {1905), No. 73, pp. 149- 

 ^ 6 V).— In continuation of the author's investigations on this subject, a report is 

 given of experiments with papain from different sources and under different condi- 

 tions. 



In explanation of the action of papain two interpretations are offered, "(1) that 

 a single protease is present, capable of both fibrin digestion and peptolysis, and that 

 one or other of these activities may be more or less inhibited by the antiseptics, or 

 (2) that two proteases are present in papain, which may respond differently and 

 independently to the action of antiseptics." Of these two explanations the author 

 prefers the second, which indicates that papain contains a fibrin-digesting protease 

 of the nature of pepsin, and also a peptolytic protease of the nature of erepsin. 



In continuation of other investigations (E. S. R., 14, p. 1051) the author has 

 studied the proteolytic action of the foliage-leaves of various plants, and has added 

 to the previous results, extending them to include the linden, rhubarb, and poke- 

 weed {Phytolacca decandra), 



The biology of Melanpyrum pratense, L. Gautier {Corupf. Rend. Acad. Sri. 

 [Paris], 140 {1905), Xo. 21, pp. 1414-1416).— X note is given on the biology of Melan- 

 pyrum pratense, a plant which is shown to be semiparasitic in its habit of growth, 

 attacking through mycorrhiza the roots of a number of forest trees and many grasses. 

 It seems to prefer the beech as a host plant. 



The bast cells of the hypocotyl of flax, A. Herzog {SeparaU from Ztschn Farb. ". 

 Textil Indus., 3 {1904), Xos. 20, 21, 22, pp. 15, Jigs. 20).— The results of a microscopical 

 study of the bast cells of the flax plant are given. 



How to know wild fruits, Maude G. Peterson, illus. by Mary E. Herbert 

 1 New York and Loudon: The Macmillan Co., 1905, pp. XLIII—340,pls. 18, figs. 60).— 

 This book is intended as a guide to the identification of plants in the northeastern 

 United States by means of their fruits and leaves. 



Evolution of cellular structures, O. F. Cook and W. T. Swingle ( U. S. Dept. 

 Ayr., Bur. Plant Lulus. Bui. 81, pp. 26, pi. 7. figs. 2).—k discussion is given of a 

 number of factors that are believed to have a bearing on the evolution of plants and 

 animals. 



FIELD CROPS. 



The book of the Rothamsted experiments, A. D. Hall {London: John Murray, 

 1905, pp. XL j-294, pis. 8, dgrns. 49). — This is a general account of the Rothamsted 

 experiments intended for the use of the student of agricultural science as well as the 

 practical man. 



It summarizes the mass of information which has already been published in the 

 long series of Rothamsted Memoirs, adding "other facts and deductions arising out 

 of the experiments which the original investigators had not hitherto been able to 

 publish." The author attempts to make the subject "plain to the nontechnical 

 reader and to elucidate the subject by diagrams and simplified tables, leaving the 

 specialist to consult the original papers for fuller information." 



The book contains a biographical introduction, including obituary accounts by 

 \\. Warington of Sir John Lawes and Sir Henry Gilbert; chapters on the sources of 

 nitrogen of vegetation, meteorological « >1 >servati< ins, the composition of the Rothamsted 



