BOTANY. 219 



noted from two localities. Leaves of pear trees were identified by the 

 author as affected by species of Spha'ria, the trees in this instance hav- 

 ing nearh" ever}- leaf attacked. 



A report is given on impurities found in a number of feeding stuffs, 

 and a brief account of an investigation in which the effect of lightning 

 on a numl>er of trees is shown. 



Saltbushes {Queensland Agr. Jour., {J 900), No. 4, pp. 254-357, ph. 3). — Notes 

 are given on a number of species of Atriplex, their habits of growth and possible 

 value being described. Extensive quotations are given from California Station 

 Bulletin 125 (E. S. R., 11, p. 636). 



Botanical notes on wheat and spelt, A. S. Hitchcock {Ayner. (lard., '21 {1900), 

 No. 295, pp. 556, 557). — Notes the classification of the different kinds of wheat 

 according to the recognized species. Triticum monococcum, T.polonimm, and T. sat- 

 ivum. The latter is divided into T. spelta, T. dicoccum, T. turgidum, T. durum, T. 

 rompactvm, and T. ndgare. 



The North American species of Chaetochloa, F. Lamson-Pcribner and E. D. 

 Merrill {U. S. Dept. Agr., Dinslon of Agrostology Bui. 21, pp. 44, figs. 24). — This bul- 

 letin contains a revision and enumeration of the North American species of Chfeto- 

 chloa, commonly known as Setaria. According to the authors, 28 species are found 

 in the region covered by the bulletin, 23 of which are native of North America, the 

 others having been introduced from Europe. Six of the species are here published 

 for the iirst time. 



Botanical origin of caoutchouc and g-utta-percha, P. Grelot ( Origine botan- 

 ifjue des cuoidchouc ei gutta-percha. Paris: Berger-Letrault d- Co., 1899, p}). 276, figs. 

 2). — Descriptions are given of the plants producing caoutchouc and gutta-percha, 

 with historical notes, chapters on methods of culture and handling, commercial 

 movement, properties, composition, etc. 



Poisonous plants, F. M. Bailey {Queensland Agr. Jour., 6 {1900), No. 5, pp. 382, 

 383, pjl. 1). — Descriptive notes are given of the physic nut {Jatropha. curcas). 



The nutation of Helianthus, .J. H. Schaffner {Bot. Gaz., 29 {1900), No. 3, pp. 

 197-200, figs. 10). — The nutation of wild and cultivated sunflowers is figured and 

 described. 



Can strontium and barium replace calcium in phenogams? U. Suzuki {Bui. 

 Col. Agr. Imp. Unir. Tokyo, 4 {1900) , No. 1, pp. 69-79, pA. i).— The author has investi- 

 gated the possibility of substituting strontium and barium for calcium in the growth 

 of plants, experiments being made in sand and water cultures. The results obtained 

 indicate that these substances not only can not replace calcium but they are strongly 

 poisonous to the plants. This poisonous action may to a certain degree be lessened 

 by the addition of lime salts. 



The nutrition of humus plants, R. Y. Leavitt {Amer. Gard., 21 {1900), No. 

 295, pp. 552, 553, figs. 3). — The nutrition of the Cupuliferpe, Betulacea^ Ericaceie, 

 and Coniferse by means of mycorrhiza is explained. 



Some wood-destroying fungi, G. F. Atkinson {Geol. Survey Louisiana, 1899, pp. 

 331-338, pis. 7). — Notes are given on Polyporus borealis, Hydnum septentrionale, Fomes 

 fomentarius, Trametes p/nri, and Deedalea ambigua. 



The haustoria of the Erysipheae, G. Smith {Bot. Gaz., 29 {1900) , No. 3, pp. 153- 

 184, pis. 2). — The structure and behavior of the haustoria of the powdery mildews, 

 as shown by the author's investigations of a dozen species representing different 

 genera, are described. Hitherto the minute structure and development of these 

 organs seems to have lieen almost wholly unknown. 



Nitrogen and Nitragin, L. C. Newell {Fop. Sci. Mo., 34 {1900), No. 9, p. 164). — 

 Pojiular notes. 



