BOTANY. 519 



Twigs of common trees and shrubs, F. H. Hillman {Nevada Sla. Bui. .^.5, 

 pp. 16, Jigs. 18). — This bulletin is the first of a proposed series of studies in plant life, 

 and describes the twigs and buds of poplars, elms, maples, and willows. 



Notes on some Andropogons in Jamaica, W. Harris {Bui. Bot. Dept. Jamaica, 

 n. ser., 7 {1900), X<i. 10, pp. 152-154). — Notes are given on some of the economic 

 uses of Andi'opogon .^(juarro.'^Hs, A. srJuenanthu.^, and A. nardus. 



Influence of copper salts on plants, E. Chuard and F. Porchet {Bui. Soc. 

 Vaud. ScL Nat., 4- .ser., 36 {1900), No. 135, pp. 71-77). — Experiments made by the 

 authors tend to show that the favorable effects of compounds of copper on the growth 

 and fertility of plants have been exaggerated. The increase in the amount of sugar in 

 the fruit of grapes and gooseberries sprayed with Bordeaux mixture is said not to 

 exceed 1 or 2 per cent. Copper was not found present in the leaves. The deeper 

 color of the leaves, they claim, is not due to an increase in the amount of chlorophyll. 



The effect of carbon dioxid upon water transportation in plants, P. Kos- 

 AROFF {Bot. Centbl., 83 {1900), No. 5, pp. 138-144)- — A series of experiments is reported 

 with water cultures of Phaseolus vulgaris, leafless stem of Eupatorium, leaf of Acer, and 

 twigs of Sparmania, Morus alba, and Prunus cerasus, in which the effect of carbon 

 dioxid on water transportation was shown. Carbon dioxid solutions greatly check 

 the ability of plants placed in the solution to take up water. This was found to be 

 true for herbaceous and woody plants. It proved injurious to all living tissues with 

 which it came in contact. The wilting of plants subjected to a continued exposure 

 to carbon dioxid is attributed to the reduction of transpiration. 



The electrical effects of light upon green leaves, A. D. Waller {Science, n. 

 ser., 12 {1900), No. 297, pp. 377,378). — A brief abstract is given of the paper in which 

 appears the result of the author's investigation upon the action of light upon green 

 leaves, being accompanied by electrical effects. Young leaves were placed upon a 

 glass plate and connected with a galvanometer, one portion being shaded and the 

 other exposed to the light. The deflection of the galvanometer during the illumina- 

 tion was sufficient to indicate an electric current in the leaf from the excited to the 

 protected part. The amount of current in some cases was measured, and the effect 

 of various gases, as shown upon the electric current, is given. 



The influence of temperature on protein metabolism, D. Prianishnikov {Ber. 

 Dent. But. Gesell., 18 {l900),*No. 6, pp. 285-291). — Experiments with pea seedlings 

 showed that the energy of protein metabolism increases with the increase in tempera- 

 ture up to at least 37° C. 



Formation of resin in plants, A. Tschirch {FesUch. Schwendener, Berlin, 1899, 

 pp. 464-470; ahs. in Jour. Rog. Micros. Soc. \_London'], 1900, No. ^,p. 214)- — The mode 

 of formation of oil cells in Oinnamomum cassia is described in detail. They are said 

 to be developed from small cells filled with protoplasm by the gradual suberation of 

 the cell walls, accompanied by the formation of a layer of nuicilage. Later the 

 inner strata of the mucilage layer are absorbed and the protoplasm fuses with the 

 remainder of the mucilage, the resin-bearing layer resulting from their union. Small 

 drops of oil are formed which gradually pass into the cavity and the resin-bearing 

 layer is ultimately almost entirely resorbed. Similar phenomena are said to occur 

 in other resin-ljearing plants. 



On artificially" changing the coloring of flo^wers, M. Miyoshi {Boi. Centbl., 

 S3 {1900), No. 11, pp. 34s, 346). — A brief account is given of experiments with alum, 

 hydrochloric acid, and caustic potash in changing the coloring of flowers. Watery 

 extracts were made of various red, purple, and lilac colored flowers and dilute solu- 

 tions of the chemicals mentioned added. The alum changed the lilac to blue and 

 the rose color to lilac. Hydrochloric acid changed the lilac and the light red to a 

 copper red, and in some cases the lilac was changed to green or brown. Potash 

 transformed the rose and lilac to green or yellow. Similar results were obtained 

 when cut flowers were placed in solutions of the above, or by watering with them 



