[Vor. 5 
288 ANNALS OF THE MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN 
action on asparagin; a specificity of the extracted enzyme is 
thus indicated. 
Dispersions from etherized tissues showed increased pro- 
teolytie action on albumin in neutral and in alkaline solu- 
tions, and on easein in neutral solutions, as compared with 
enzymes from controls. With peptone the reverse action was 
noted, both in neutral and in alkaline media. Action upon 
eoagulated albumin in acid medium was greater in controls 
than in the dispersions from etherized corms. 
Catalase activity appeared to be inhibited as the result of 
etherization. 
Of the experiments with enzyme dispersions from Gladiolus 
on earbohydrates, starch was the only substrate showing con- 
sistent results, and these pointed to increased hydrolysis fol- 
lowing etherization. Data from the other carbohydrates are 
conflicting and do not warrant definite conclusions. 
The action on carbohydrates of barley flour from etherized 
and unetherized germinated seeds showed a uniform inhibi- 
tion resulting from the anaesthetie. It was also shown that 
anaestheties do not effect dehydration. 
The various data in this study warrant the conclusion that 
the presence of the colloidal enzyme-protein complex or of 
solid organie matter, such as meal or flour from tissues, in- 
troduces an undesirable source of error if, at the time that 
enzyme action must be stopped, these substances are heated 
together with the substrate. The experiments with barley in- 
dieate that inhibiting enzyme action after freeing the sub- 
strate from insoluble organie matter tends to give more con- 
cordant results. 
The results as a whole tend to confirm the view that anaes- 
thetics exert a more or less direct influence upon the subse- 
quent activities of plant enzymes. 
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 
The writer takes pleasure in acknowledging his indebted- 
ness to all who have contributed their support to the prosecu- 
tion of the present studies. Sincere thanks are extended to 
Dr. George T. Moore for the privileges of the laboratory and 
