40 BOTANICAL GAZETTE ' [JULY 
effect on the intake of water by the pectic acid or a specific effect 
of salt formation with this acid and thus affect the course of abscis- 
sion. The following anions were used in the form of their potassium 
and calcium salts: PO,, SO,, Cl, NO;, and CNS; and the following 
cations in the form of their chlorides: K, Na, Ca, Ba. In all cases 
©.o1 normal concentrations were used. The plants were treated 
by infiltration, by placing cuttings directly in the solutions, and by 
adding the salts to the soil. Abscission was slightly accelerated by 
treating the plants with 4 parts of ethylene per million of air. In 
all cases the results were the same. Neither lyotropic nor specific 
effects were noted. Similarly, concentrations of potassium and 
calcium chlorides between 0.04 and 0.00016 normal showed no 
marked effect. 
The experiment was repeated under conditions of rapid accelera- 
tion of abscission by treating the plants with 700 parts of ethylene 
per million of air. The results which agree with those above are 
summarized in table ITI. 
TABLE III 
SHOWING EFFECT OF SALTS ON ABSCISSION 
Jose FEBRUARY I5 FEBRUARY. 14 FEBRUARY 13 
CONCENTRATION 
§ P.M. Q A.M. 5 P.M. 9 A.M. 5 PM. 9 A.M, 5 P.M. 
‘o-6) NBO oie a a eek 3 a ee irs 5 
me ane Oe PUES Sb estiwe ce pe oge ees 2 3 Ae 4 
Pe CASO ee ea ee 5 Or ee 6 
Co UROL te oe ees 3 eer Spe es 5 
oP RIN Ste oe 2 - GES is SIRI BERG 5 
. CaC(NO De) So a ea mais a ree 4 
8 RONG. se eee owe ee eee 4 4 
WRANE eo. cic a i i 3 4 
Se eh aes 2 5 ap ene ae ay com a nN 6 
Pe ae kd eect bes eo waked Henn cere 3 3 
WS icra ee tee Go ie. 6 6 
Oey a ede as Ee ee Fe eee 6 6 
6.08 MWB. cs ee is eee 3 4 LE 5 
“ Ase Oo ie a Gs 3 4 ee eae 4 
«© CeCe he. a Se 4 PENG aes 4 
yg get, See Pe as ee 2 4 Bo bicwee, 4 
_ Cuttings in solutions of the different salts gave similar results. 
The great diversity of the checks noted in this table is very unusual. 
