VoL. 3 No. 2 
BULLETIN 
4 OF THE 
TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB 
FEBRUARY, 1904 
The influence of carbon monoxide and other gases upon plants * 
H. M. RIcHARDS AND D. T. MacDoucAL 
Some time since the authors began an investigation of the in- 
* fluence of carbon monoxide upon plants, in which this gas was 
used to replace partially or entirely the nitrogen of the air. At- 
tention was directed chiefly to the effects upon the cell-contents, 
upon growth and developmental phenomena and no consideration 
given to the possibility of the use or absorption of the sub- 
ce by the plant. Later comparative series of experiments 
made with nitrous oxide and various mixtures furnished for 
luminating purposes. 
__ The striking character of the results already obtained, as well 
the recent publication by Bottomley and Jackson of their con- 
ions as to the ability of the green plant to utilize carbon mon- 
in the construction of food-material (Proc. Roy. Soc. 72: 
31 Jl 1903), led the authorsto make public at this time 
: of the important facts that have been brought to light in 
work, : 
In most of these experiments the CO used was prepared by 
decomposition of oxalic acid with strong sulphuric acid. As 
ck, however, some additional series have been tried with the 
‘prepared from other sources, namely, potassic ferro-cyanide, 
ch when treated with concentrated sulphuric yields CO as the 
y gaseous product, and by passing a current of carbon dioxide 
glowing charcoal, giving pure CO. Although in all cases 
d before the Botanical Society of America at St. Louis, December 30, 1903. 
Phe “tinge number of the BULLETIN, Vol. 31, No. 1, for oe 1904 (31: 
I9 Ms 
