158 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [FEBRUARY 
question of photosynthesis im vitro, and again with negative results.27_ He repeated 
Maccuiatr’s experiments (following his directions in litt.), and tried also those 
of Moutscu, which lent faint support to Maccurati’s conclusions. The gas 
disengaged seems due only to bacterial infection and when obtained at all does 
not conform in amount to that demanded by theory. This accumulation of 
negative results makes exceedingly doubtful the claims of FRIEDEL and MAc- 
carati.-~-C. K.-B. 
Measuring transpiration CaNNon describes? a method of studying the 
rate of transpiration upon plants in place, which he calls the polymeter method, 
because LaMBRecH?’s portable polymeter, a combined hygrometer and ther- 
mometer is used to ascertain the increase in humidity of the atmosphere around 
the experimental plant when enclosed in a bell jar. Certain defects in the 
method are noted, but the most important one, that it itself produces a variable 
decrease in transpiration, is not mentioned.— C. R. B. 
Diastase.— KLEEMANN, finding the known methods of determining the 
course of diastase formation not sufficiently accurate, proposes a new, and, as he 
claims, more satisfactory one.?? Using it he has determined that the amount of 
diastase formed depends, on the one hand, upon the water content of the barley, 
and on the other, upon how the water is supplied and taken up, and that the 
loss by respiration is greater the greater the water content.— C. R. B 
The sporophyte of mosses.—TRUE finds’° that the nodding of the capsusel 
of Mnium, and probably of Funaria also, is due to geotropic stimulation, while 
the direction of illumination determines the plane of the curve in the seta, the 
apex of the capsule sometimes curving toward and sometimes away from the 
incident light. The calyptra affords important protection to the growing sporo- 
phyte from mechanical injury and desiccation —C. R. B. 
Chloroform a stimulant— So Miss Latham: finds it in small quantities to 
Sterigmatocystis, especially at the time of germination, while larger quantities 
are inimical or fatal. Less acid formation and less sugar consumption under the 
stimulus indicate greater metabolic economy.—C. R. B 
Chromosome reduction.—A useful collective review of the recent literature on 
this subject is presented by K6rNIcKE in Bot. Zeit. 63?: 289-307. 1905.— 
27 BERNARD, C., Sur l’assimilation chlorophyllienne. Beihefte Bot. Centralbl. 
IQ':59-67. 1905. 
28 CANNON, W. A., A new method of pes a the transpiration of plants in 
place. Bull. Torr. Bot. Club 32: 515-529. 1905. 
29 KLEEMANN, A., Untersuchungen iiber ie Landw. Versuchsstat. 63: 
93-134- 1905. 
3° TRUE, R. H., Notes on =f sanity of the sporophyte of Funaria and Mnium. 
Beihefte Bot. Centralbl. I9':3 
3t LatHam, M. F.., ea Z ae by chloroform. Bull. Torr. 
Bot. Club 32: 337-357. 1905. 
