22 SCIENCE BULLETIN, No. 9. 



Influence of aluminium salts on the colour of flowers. VALENTINE VOUK. 

 (Oesterr. Bot. Zeit, 1909, 58, 236-243.) Plants of Hydrangea hortensis 

 watered with a solution of 3 per cent. alum, produced flowers of a fine 

 blue colour. Later the plant died. The best results were obtained with 

 1 per cent, solution. When A1 2 (SO 4 ) 3 is used, the colouration is less 

 evident. Negative results were obtained with Phlox decussata. 



Boron. 



Boric acid as a plant constituent. C. A. CBAMPTON. (Amer. Chem. J., 11, 

 227-232.) The Author found B. in thirty-four out of thirty-six samples of 

 wine, also in watermelon and peach-tree; not in cider nor sugar-cane. 



Boron in vegetable ash. E. BECHI. (Bull. Soc. Chim. (3), 3, 122.) The ash 

 of beech growing in borax district of Tuscany contains 1-30,000 of boric 

 acid. 



Occurrence of Boron in vegetable kingdom, and its physiological meaning. E. 

 HOTTER. (Landw. Versuchs-Station, 37, 437-458.) . . . . B. was found 

 in all ashes of fruit, leaves, twigs of fruit-trees, and other plants. Water 

 cultures were made with Piseum sativum and Zea mais. When much B. is 

 taken up, the chlorophyll is destroyed . . . roots die. The greater the 

 concentration, the greater the noxious effects. (Concentration not stated.) 



Action of boric acid in germination. J. MOREL. (Compt. Rend., 114, 131-133.) 

 The rate of germination of beans and wheat soaked in acid boric solution 

 (001 to 0-1 per cent.) is considerably retarded, the retardation being 

 proportional to the increase of strength of the solution. Plants germinated 

 are weak and etiolated. 



Presence of boric acid in products of the soil. A. GASSEND. (Ann. Agrou., 17, 

 352-354.) The Author examined French, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Algerian, 

 Corsican wines, and found boric acid a normal constituent of all, in the 

 proportion of 5 to 10 milligrams per litre. He finds similar traces of boric 

 acid in grapes, apples, potatoes, radishes, lettuce, and some peas, not in 

 all. None in tea, saffron, or cow's milk. 



Distribution of boric acid in nature. HENRI HAY. (Compt. Rend., 1895, 896- 

 899.) The Author found wines to contain from 0-009 to 0-033 gram per 

 litre, the mean 0-017 to 0-023 per cent. The ash of the vine contains 

 from 4-7 to 16-5 gram per kilo ; the average is 8 to 12 grammes. The ash 

 of the mark from 1-4 to 3-5 per kilo. Leaves only 0-7 per kilo. Fruit, 

 leaves . . . contain from 1-5 to 6-4 grams of boric acid per kilo of ash. 

 In the ash of seaweeds, plantain leaves, chrysanthemum flowers, onions, 

 the quantity is from 2-1 to 4-6 grams per kilo. Gramineae and certain 

 fungi absorb very little . . . not more than 0-5 gram per kilo of ash. 

 Ash of coals, of sea salt, river, and spring waters contain B. 



Presence of boric acid in genuine Sicilian wines. E. AZARELLO. (Gazzetta, 

 1906, 36, ii, 375-387.) Eighty-four samples of Sicilian wines all contained 

 boric acid. In six the amount was from 0-0191 to 0-041 grammes per litre. 



Use of Boron as a catalytic manure. H. AGULHAN. (Compt. Rend., 1910, 150, 

 288-291.) The addition of boric acid was found beneficial to wheat grown 

 in nutrient media, unless the amount was higher than 0-01 gram per 1,000 

 grams of medium. Similar results were obtained under natural conditions 

 in earth. The increased yield (calculated on the dry plant) amounted to 

 50 per cent, with maize, 21 per cent, with rape-seed, 32 per cent, in case of 

 turnips, when a dose of 05 gram or boric acid per square metre was 

 employed. 



Presence of Boron in Algerian wines. J. DUGAST. (Compt. Rend., 1910, 150, 

 838-839.) Traces of Boron have been found in different parts of Algerian 

 vines, notably in the branches, skins, and stones of the berry. 



Presence of Boron in Tunisian wines. BEBTANCHAUD and GAUVRY. (Ann. 

 Chimie Anal., 1910, 15, 179-180.) Wines from Tunisia were found to 

 contain traces of Boron as a natural constituent. 



Tolerance of maize to Boron. HENRI AGULHAN. (Compt. Rend., 1910, 151, 

 1382-1383.) Plants grown in a medium containing somewhat less than the 

 fatal amount of B. produce seeds, the plant of which has acquired a certain 

 measure of immunity to the poison. 



