SEEDS WEEDS. 1049 



Eucalypts, A. J. McClatcitie {Arlzoiui Sl<i. Iijit. I</00, pp. 165, 166). — A report is 

 given of the experiments which have been eonducted witii tlie different species of 

 Eucalyptus at the Arizona Station. Of a large number of species that have been 

 tested many have l)een found to have been unable to withstand the summer tempera- 

 tures of that region. Others have been found exceedingly valuable for planting and 

 some f)f these are rated among the most valuable species of the genus. The species 

 which have survived the heat and dryness of the Territory are Eucalyptus cor[/no- 

 caly.i; E. cornuta, E. hemip?doia, E. leucoxylon, E. meUiodora, E. occidentdlis, E. jxjlyar^ 

 llieina, E. rostrata, E. rudis, and E. tereticornis. 



The Carolina poplar, J. T. Rothrock {Forest Leaves, 7 {1900), No. 12, pp. 184, 

 185, pis. „-'). — A descrii)tion is given of the Carolina poplar or cottonwood {Populus 

 monillfcra). This tree frequently attains the height of 100 ft., with a diameter of 7 

 or 8 ft. The tree is described at some length, and on account of its rapid growth and 

 adaptation to all kinds of soils is said to be a promising one for forest culture. The 

 wood is brittle, liable to split and warp, but is valuable for the production of wood 

 puli>. On this account it is likely to exceed other native trees for such purposes. 

 An account is given of a planting made in 1899 of 1,000 cuttings of the Carolina poplar 

 which, without any i)rotection during the winter or especial preparation when 

 planting, presented 75 per cent of the plants making satisfactory growth the follow- 

 ing year. 



SEEDS- WEEDS. 



The protein substances of seeds, T. Bokorny {Bof. Ccnthl.^ 82 

 {1900), No. 10-1 U pp. 289-806).— The present state of our knowledge 

 of the protein substances of seeds is sunnnarized by the author, in 

 which it appears that globulins soluble in 5 to 10 per cent solution of 

 sodium chlorid are stored up in the protein grains and albumin crys- 

 tals of seeds. The protein or aleurone grains varj' in size from 1 to 

 55 jii, their largest size being o])tained in oily seeds. In the endosperm 

 of cereals they are said to be very small but never entirely absent. 

 The presence of active protein could not be detected in grains. The 

 fibrin of cereals is said to be peculiar in that it is soluble in 70 to 80 

 per cent cold or hot alcohol, a reagent which precipitates the other 

 protein substances. The author was unable to detect any peptone in 

 dormant seeds, while albumoses were occasionally found in minute 

 quantities. Amid substances, such as asparagin, tyrosin, and leucin, 

 are widely distributed in seeds and the vegetative parts of plants. 

 The author states they appear to be the first products of decomposition 

 and the Hrst stagt^ in the formation of protein su))stances. 



The influence of the sun's rays upon the germination of seeds, 

 T. Tammes {Landw. Jxhrh., 19 {1900), No. 3, pp. 1^67-1^82, pi. 1).— 

 The efi'ect of the sun's rays upoji the germination of sunflowers, horse 

 beans, centaury, rice, Allima Ji.stulosuin, Ei'od'tuin clcittariiDn, and 

 Nicotiana rustica is shown. The experiments were conducted with 

 specially devised apparatus in which comparisons could be made of 

 seeds germinated imder identical conditions except as to illumination. 

 One lot was germinated entirel}- in the dark, another received direct 

 sunlight for -ii days, while the control lot was germinated out of the 



