BOTANY. 217 



of equal doAelopnieiit, .separiited the einbiyo from the endosperm, and 

 determined the protein and nitrogen according to the methods of 

 Stutzer and Vigcldatl, The results of the analyses are shown, from 

 which the author claims that proteids are formed in considerable 

 quantity by the embryos of wheat during the process of germination. 

 It is further claimed that this increase could not have come from the 

 endosperms ])y osmosis, but was formed in the embryo. 



Concerning the physiological functions of solanin, G. Albo 

 {Conti'lh. Biol. Veg., '2 {1899). No. 3; aU. in Ami. Agron., '25 {1899), 

 No. 12., 2)}). 621.^ 622). — Solanin has been previously regarded by dif- 

 ferent authors as a means of defense and as a transfer form of albumin 

 similar to asparagin. The author studied the question by examining 

 micro-chemically a numl)er of species of Solanum grown under normal 

 conditions, in shade and in an atmosphere lacking in carbon dioxid. 



Solanin was found in the stems, leaves, tubers, and seeds of most 

 species of Solanum grown under normal conditions. During and fol- 

 lowing germination it diminishes, ])ut reappears with the development 

 of the plant and is abundant in the adult plant. When grown in dark- 

 ness, solanin gradually disappears, and negative reactions were obtained 

 for a consideral)le time before the death of the plant. If the seeds of 

 Solanum sodomeum are germinated in the dark, there is a complete 

 disappearance of the alkaloid. When the seedlings were brought into 

 the light, the solanin reappeared soon after the chlorophyll functions 

 •were established. The same is true of the seeds of the eggplant, 

 tomato, potato, and numerous species of Capsicum. 



From the results of these experiments the author believes that 

 solanin can not be considered a transfer form of the albuminoids, but 

 is a true nitrogenous reserve material used by the plant during its first 

 stages of development. On this account it is claimed that solanin can 

 not be considered simply as a means of defense on the part of the plant 

 against animals. 



The inhibiting action of oxidases upon diastase, A. F. Woods 

 {Science, n. .sv>/'., 11 {1900), JVo. 262, pp. 17-19). — While engaged in a 

 study of the mosaic disease of tobacco leaf, the author found that the 

 lighter-colored areas contained more starch in the form of granules 

 than the green areas of the same leaf. He has pointed out elsewhere 

 (see p. 216) that these light-colored cells exhibit much more oxidizing 

 activity than the green cells of the same leaf. In all examples there 

 was a greater amount of oxidizing enzyms, oxidases as well as per- 

 oxidases, in the light-colored tissues. Mainly upon this evidence the 

 author considered the light-colored tissues as the diseased portions of 

 the leaves. 



Recent histological studies of diseased leaves reveal important dif- 

 ferences, which make it very clear that the light-colored areas are not 

 normal. In badl}- diseased leaves the palisade parenchyma is not 



