346 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [OCTOBER 
(2) a study of the galls of Celtis occidentalis; (3) a comparative study of struc- 
tures. The work is exceptionally well done and well presented. There are 
kn pe 
lepidopterous galls are kataplasma in character, and the hemipterous and 
dipterous galls protoplasma in character. This latter type is more closely 
comparable to the normal plant parts, but the tissue forms are new. e 
author very properly suggests that zoocecidology presents a unique field for 
the study of problems pertaining to the mechanism used in the expression of 
hereditary characters.—MEL. T. Coox. 
Germination of rice.—Nacar has made rather an extensive general study 
of the germination of rice, touching many points that have previously been 
worked out on other seeds. The cutinized inner integument of the ripe fruit 
is a semipermeable membrane. Such membranes have been found in the fruit 
walls of many grasses and in the coats of many seeds. Desiccated seeds of 
rice are not injured by steeping for 24 hours in ether, chloroform, absolute 
alcohol, acetone, and other substances. This is in accord with the work of 
BEQUEREL and of SHULL,33 who have found that the dry coats of many seeds 
are impervious . such substances, but that, as the water content of the coats 
rises, they become more pervious. Rice germinates in an extremely low partial 
pressure of oxygen, yet the germination is abnormal, the hypocotyl growing 
only under considerable oxygen pressure. Acids and bases show no stimulative 
effects upon the germination of rice. A few hours of exposure to liquid air 
does not injure the seeds of rice or buckwheat. Two hours’ exposure to 97- 
° C. kills Zea Mays, but does little injury to rice, especially if it is desic- 
cated.—Wm. CROCKER. 
Alkalies and salt absorption.—As a phase in the analysis of the tees of 
alkalies upon the development of plants, BREAZEALE* has studied the effect 
of NaCl, Na.SO, and Na,CO; upon the absorption of nitrates, phosphates, and 
potash by wheat seedlings. Up to 1000 ppm. in a nutrient solution they do 
not affect the absorption of nitrates. In this concentration NaCl does not 
modify phosphate absorption, but slightly depresses potash absorption. In 
1000 ppm., NazSO, depresses the absorption of potash and phosphoric = 
to approximately 70 per cent of that of the checks. In equal mol co 
Na,CO; depresses the absorption of potash to 20 per cent and phosphoric er 
to 30 per cent normal. With Na,SO, these depressing effects were evident in 
300 ppm. The writer thinks the depressing effect of the Na2SO, is due to its 
3t NAGAI, vagrant Some studies on the germination of seeds of Oryza sativa. 
Jour. Coll. Agric., Imperial University Tokyo 3:109-155. 1916. 
® Bor, Gaz. 56:169-199. 1913; 63:373-397. 1917. 
33 Bot. GAZ. 56: 169-199. 19 
REAZEALE, J. F., Effect os al salts in water cultures on the absorption 
of plant food wheat seedlings. Jour. Agric. Research 7:407-416. 1916. 
