the species and facilitates the differentiation of doubles. 
-alcaloids, colouring matter, aromatics, &c.) have not been investigated as yet with | 
The authors further investigated the action of strychnine, nicotine, coffeine and morphi 
Mushrooms with a smell of onion are m 
of almonds are edible, excepting Russula fetens. The odour of 
edibility, exceptions being T'richoloma sejunctum and Inocybe frumenta 
- Fungi with a repulsive sweet odour or which smell of ammonia, c 
and potatoes are unfit to be eaten. The smell is no sure criterion’ Of | g 
as to whether a mushroom is edible or not, but it is quite important for ¢ = 
On page 123 of our Report of October 1917, we digcuscem a note of. R K 
according to which the Psalliota varieties can be separated into an anise and a 
all the Psaltioter smell of hydrocyanic acid, W. bOusrnever says it is one the Cc 
with P. campestris and arvensis, whereas P. vaporina smells remarkably see 
anise and all the other kinds are odourless. 
In most of the books on fungi, the smell of the stinkhorn is described" as moulene i 
reminding one of carrion. M.Wegner’s*) opinion is that it does not smell so disagreeably. 
He would call it “obtrusively sweetish” similar to privet blossom, which view is con- 
firmed by Fischer in a treatise on the Phallinew, who likewise calls it sickly sweetis 
recalling mustard seed oil?). 
As to an abnormal ‘crystalline secretion, called hyssopin, in hyssop plants attacked 
by fungi, see page 32 of this Report. : ates a 
The influence of the mandelic acid nitrile on germinating plants. — Contrary to the ” 
essential componants of plants (fats, sugar, proteins) the accidental ones (glucosides, - 
regard to their biological value. In consequence, G. Ciamician and C. Ravenna‘). 
endeavoured to investigate the influence of such bodies on the development of the 
plant. First the action of mandelic acid nitrile on indian corn and ‘beans was studie . 
It was found that a 1 per cent. solution prevented germination, whereas an equivalent 
solution of amygdalin did not have any such effect. If the plants, especially beans, 
are allowed to develop in a solution of: mandelic acid nitrile, they are distinctly 
different from those grown in water or a food solution. The roots are less developed 
and the plants are not so high, but bushier and hardier with regard to the influen 
of winter. The plants contained neither prussic acid nor benzaldehyde. Further developed 
plants, which have not been accustomed to the poison, die quickly if treated with 
mandelic acid nitrile, as mentioned before. Prussic acid also handicaps the germinati 
wie 
Physiological and Pharmacological Notes. 
New notes on the iheory of smelling. — ‘ Twa: treatises Bes A. Dune nd) 
1) Chem.-Ztg. 41 (1917), 61. — *) Ibidem p. 755. = 4) [bidem p. 461. — 4). Ph 
(1918), 49. — 5) A. Engler and K. Prantl, Die natdérlichen Pfanzenfamilien (The Natural Plan 
division 1**, p. 292, Leipzig 1900. — %) Atti R. Accad. dei Lincei, Roma DP 26, I. ve 7) 
1917, II. 233. — 7) Compt. rend. 166 (1918); 129, 532. Co 
