[Vor. 5 
230 ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 
EFFECT ON GROWTH ELONGATION AND CELL DIVISION 
Growth responses to the agents with which we are here 
concerned have also occupied the attention of several bot- 
anists. Siragusa (’79) noted growth inhibition of both 
aérial and subterranean organs of higher plants.  Detmer 
(82) also found that chloroform inhibited the growth of 
Pisum and Triticum or impeded it notably, with reduced 
respiration. Elfving (’86) reported inhibition of growth of 
sporangiophores of Phycomyces nitens for short periods as 
the result of ether treatment, without subsequent recovery. 
Bateson and Darwin (’87) studied the effect of ether and 
chloroform vapors on pith elongation of Helianthus, using 
auxanometric methods, and found that ether effected a dis- 
tinct increase in length, varying with the dosage employed. 
Chloroform had a variable effect, acting as a stimulant in 
one case; with weaker dosage, however, there was either in- 
hibition or no effect. 
Townsend (’97) subjected leaves of Avena sativa to ether 
atmospheres of different concentrations for varying periods. 
Retardation of growth was found to vary with increase of 
ether concentrations in the atmosphere. Weak concentrations 
first produced a retardation, followed by a distinct stimulus. 
In some cases the stimulus to growth did not become evident 
for a day, and then lasted throughout the period of the experi- 
ment. Longer exposure resulted in retardation for two days, 
followed by a return to normal growth rate without any in- 
termediate period of acceleration. Sandsten ('98) also re- 
corded a growth acceleration caused by weak ether and 
chloroform dosages on seedlings of Zea Mays, and a retard- 
ing action of stronger concentrations. Resting bulbs were 
killed by long exposure to weak doses. Latham (’05) studied 
the relation of chloroform to the growth of Sterigmatocystis 
nigra and of Penicillium glaucum. She found the usual con- 
centration relations to hold,—growth stimulation with small 
doses and inhibition or death following the use of large ones. 
The effect of a given dose increased with rise in temperature. 
The increased growth observed was attributed to increased 
