BOTANY. 911 



of the bud scales. As the tissues develop, the amount of calcium is 

 lessened proportionately. While it is usually assumed that calcium 

 oxalate is a waste product of metabolism, its occurrence in such large 

 quantities would seem to indicate that it mioht have some definite 

 value at this particular time in the life history of the plant. 



On the poisonous properties of some alkaline compoiinds 

 tov^ard higher plants, 11. Coupin {Compt. Bend. Aci(d. jSc/'. I'd r Ik., 

 130 {1900), No. m, pp. 791-793).— The author reports a series of 

 experiments in which the poisonous effects of bromid, chlorid, iodid, 

 nitrate, chlorate, acetate, and phosphate of calcium, strontium, and 

 barium are shown ])y the action of their solutions upon the growth of 

 wheat. 



The compounds of calcium affected the plants unequally, the bro- 

 mid, phosphate, and nitrate being but very slightly injurious, the 

 iodid strongly, with the acetate and chlorid intermediate. The nitrate 

 of strontium is l)ut slightly poisonous, the bromid and chlorid some- 

 what more, while the iodid was extremely injurious. All of the com- 

 pounds of barium were more or less injurious, the bromid being the 

 least and the chlorate most poisonous, with the others intermediate, 

 except the iodid, which was about as injui'ious as the chlorate. In 

 general the poisonous properties of calcium, strontium, and barium 

 increase with their atomic weights. 



How crops grow; a treatise on the chemical composition, structure, and 

 life of the plant, S. W. Johnson {New York: Orange Judd Co., 1900, irr. ed., pp. 

 VI +416, figs. 69). 



Annual report of the consulting botanist, W. Carrutheks {Jour. Rog. Agr. 

 Soc. England, S. ser., 11 {1900), pt. 4, pp. 731-741, figs. 14)- — Miscellaneous notes 

 are given on a number of plant diseases, supposed poisonous plants, weeds, grass mix- 

 tures, and seed testing. The first appearance of the pear scuh {Fasidadmm pyrmuni) 

 in England is noted. Serious injury to beans by Sclrrotinia i<clerotiorum is reported. 

 HelminOiosporium gramineum reappeared on barley during the year, causing some loss. 

 Notes are given on ergot, corn cockle, and Latliyrus .mtiva as poisonous to stock. A 

 number of weeds are described and means for their destruction suggested. The 

 report concludes with a description of a bacterial disease of turnips noted elsewhere. 



Agrostological notes, F. Lamson-Scribner and E. D. Merrill ( U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Division of Agrostology Oirc. 27, pp. 10). — Notes are given on studies made on the 

 grasses of the herbarium of H. Muhlenberg. Two new species of Eatonia are 

 described, as well as a new variety of Panictim nashianum. Notes are given on the 

 nomenclature of various species and varieties of grasses, together with the publi- 

 cation by C. V. Piper of new names of Melica bulhosa and Slipa occidentalis. The 

 names suggested for these grasses are M. hella and <S'. thnrherviva. 



Inventory of foreign seeds and plants, J. G. Smith ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Division 

 of Botany, Inventory No. 7, pp. 86). — A catalogue of recently introduced seeds and 

 plants is given which includes the collections of the explorers of the Section of Seed 

 and Plant Introduction, as well as a large number of donations from miscellaneous 

 sources. The principal sources through which the seeds and plants were obtained 

 were W. T. Swingle, who collected in France, Algeria, and Asia Minor; M. A. Carlton, 

 in Russia; S. A. Knapp, in Japan; and B. Lathrop and D. G. Fairchild, in South 

 America and the West Indies. 



