296 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [ APRIL 
too incomplete to be taken for a bibliography of even the most critical of 
recent contributions in this field, but does offer an easy way of getting at the 
gist of several valuable but verbose contributions. In the issue of October 
15 M. Prunet gives a clear presentation of the embryological investigations of 
Jaccard * on Ephedra and of Karsten23 on Gnetum.—J. G. CouLTER. 
By PLACING etiolated leaves, from which the carbohydrate substances 
have been as completely removed as possible, in contact with various solw- 
tions, M. W. Palladine*t has demonstrated the beneficent influences of 
certain substances upon the formation of chlorophyll and the retarding effect 
of others. He lists among substances favorable to chlorophyll formation 
saccharose, raffinose, glucose, fructose, maltose, glycerin, galactose, lactose, 
and dextrin. Inuline and tyrosine have no perceptible effect under the 
conditions employed, while contact with mannite, dulcite, asparagin, ure 
alchohol, chloride of ammonia, and quinic acid either checks or abso- 
lutely prevents its formation. He also demonstrates by a very simple and 
efficient experiment that respiration proceeds freely in an atmos) 
impoverished of oxygen, in which chlorophyll appears in etiolated leaves not 
at all or only very slowly.—J. G. CouLTER. 
RECENT ANNUAL REPORTS from the experiment stations containes 
botanical information are as follows: The Rhode Island report for aghiiat 
of carnation diseases (pp. 203-210) by L. F. Kinney, especially of ait 
rust, and “ petrified”’ buds. The two first mentioned were effectively ch 
with Bordeaux mixture and removal of diseased leaves; the last is sup 
to be due to forcing growth beyond healthful limits, as the buds never ee 
One-third of the report (pp. 242-318) is devoted to an illustrated ier rt 
the extended studies of H. J. Wheeler and G. M. Tucker on ine gv ae 
as a fertilizer for field crops. Beneficial results were obtained pee afte 
kinds of plants and at different localities in the state. It es ras : 
making pot observations, to the corrective action upon soil acidity. . upon 4 
The report of the Vermont station for 1896-7 contains esa te. inter es 
pollination of the plum (pp. 87-98) by F. A. Waugh, embracing hastening 
esting details ; and also some account of the action of enzyms ™ ist of the 
germination (pp. 106-111), by the same investigator. The ye? iodine 
Station, L. R. Jones, writes (pp. 44-74) upon early, blight of Oe ectants (cor 
a full bibliography of A/ternaria Solani, upon the effect . ndoise 
. Va 
* Rechersches embryologiques sur l’Ephedra helvetica. Bal Oe 
des Sc. nat. 30: —. 1894. Bot. 
*3 Beitrag zur Entwickelungsgeschichte einiger Gnetum-Arten. 
2 Rey. ge we 
s les plantes- 
Zeit. 50°" 
** Recherches sur la formation de la chlorophylle dan 
ot. 9: 385—394. 1897. 
