TABLE OF CONTENTS 



PART I— PHYSIOLOGY OF NUTRITION 

 CHAPTER I 



Assimilation or Carbon and of the Radiant Energy of the Sun by 



Green Plants 



Page 



1. Importance of the assimilation of carbon by green plants .... i 



2. Exchange of gases 2 



3. Chlorophyll . . S 



4. Pigments accompanying chlorophyll . 19 



5. Influence of light upon the decomposition of carbonic acid by plants 21 



6. Products of photosynthesis ... 28 



?. Assimilation of solar radiant energy by green plants 32 



8. Influence of external and internal conditions upon photosynthesis 34 



9. Nutrition of green plants by orgafdc compounds . . 36 



CHAPTER II 

 Assimilation of Carbon and of Energy by Plants without Chlorophyll 



1. General discussion 40 



2. Assimilation of energy from organic compounds by plants without chlorophyll ... 40 



3. Assimilation of energy from inorganic substances by plants without chlorophyll . . 45 



4. Distribution of microorganisms in nature ... 5° 



5. Sterilization and disinfection . . 54 



6. Pure cultures ... . S^ 



CHAPTER III ' 



Assimilation of Nitrogen 



1. The nitrogen of the air . ... 60 



2. The nitrogen of the soil 61 



3. Nitrification in soils 63 



4. Circulation of nitrogen in nature 68 



5. Fixation of atmospheric nitrogen by the Leguminosae 69 



6. Assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen by bacteria 73 



7. Assimilation of nitrogen compounds by lower plants fS 



CHAPTER IV 

 Absorption of Ash-constituents 



1. Cultures in artificial media 76 



2. Importance of the essential ash-constituents . 78 



3. Importance of the non-essential ash-constituents .' % 79 



4. Ash-analysis of plants , 82 



5. Microchemical ash-analysis 84 



6. The plant and the soil 86 



