EOI'ANY. 



1013 



The artificial inoculation of beans -with pea tubercle bacteria, 

 F. NoBBK and L. Hiltner {CenthJ. Bali. u. Par., 2. ML, G {1900), 

 No. llf.^ pp. Ji^Ji')~-Jt/)7, pi. /). — Kocipro(>al inoculations were niade upon 

 beans and peas with bacteria from tiie tubercles of each, and with bean 

 tul)ercle bacteria from tulxM'cles grown upon peas, and vice versa, the 

 ol)ject being to ascertain the ett'ect of the adaptation of the organisms 

 to phmts of a different gemis than that from which the}' weiv origi- 

 nally secured. It was found that if either plant wT.re inoculated with 

 germs from the tubercles of the other some tubercles would lie formed, 

 l)ut the organisms seemed to ])e without the power of nitrogen assimi- 

 lation. If the inoculation was continued a second season, or through 

 a second or third series of cultures, the bacteria became nearl}^ as effi- 

 cient as those from the roots of the same genus. To the organisms 

 resulting from such adaptations the authors have given the name 

 "crossed" or "■ crossbred bacteria." If inoculations with these cross- 

 bred bacteria be made upon their original host they will be found to 

 have nearly lost their ability of nitrogen assiiuilation on the roots of 

 that plant, showing little if any increased nitrogen content over non- 

 inoculated plants. The effect of the various inoculation materials as 

 sho\vn by the experiments with peas is given in the following talde: 



Avcraije reaullH of inocMlating peas grown In pots. 



If the dry matter and nitrogen content of beans and peas inoculated 

 with their own root tubercle bacteria be each represented by 1(»0, the 

 effect of crossbred ba(^teria upon beans would be represented b}^ 80.74 

 for the dry matter and 74.8 for the nitrogen content. Upon the peas 

 crossbred bacteria produced 6tK83 per cent of di-y matter and 49. 2H 

 per cent of the quantity of the nitrogen stored u]) in plants inoculated 

 with pure pea tubercle bacteria. The possibility of the transfer of 

 tubercle bacteria from the roots of one plant to those of a different 

 genus is affirmed. 



Studies on American g^rasses, F. Iv.\.mson-Scribxer and E. D. MerriiJ; ( V. S. 

 Ikpt. Ayr., Dirisioit of AijroittoliHjii Bid. i^4, l>p- 55,fiil>^- ^3). — Notes ai-e given l)y the 

 authora on some recent collections of Mexican grasses, of which 227 sj^ecies and varie- 

 ties are enumerated, n s[)ecieH and 1 variety being new. Notes are also given on 

 some species of Panicnm, in which Lamarck's types of P. nitidnm, P. sropariuvi, and 

 P. pubesceiis are figured and described. Miscellaneous notes and (lescri})tionsof new 

 species are also given ))y F. Lamson-Scriljner and C. K. Ball of a iHind>er of grasses 

 occurring in the (iulf States. Five new species of Klymus are figured and described. 



