166 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. |. [Vor. XXXVI. 
worked out. The work closes with a key for the microscopical 
identification of the fibers of Japan. 
S. Kusano? reports investigations made to determine the amount 
of transpiration taking place in evergreen trees of Japan in winter. 
He finds that the giving off of water from the foliage at no time 
actually ceases, even though the minimum temperature (in Hondo) 
falls to a point several degrees below zero. The time of least trans- 
piration is, however, found to coincide with this minimum, falling 
in the month of January. Since photosynthetic activity has been 
shown by Miyake not to come to a complete standstill in winter in 
the latitude concerned, Kusano concludes that the abundance of 
evergreen trees in Japan is chiefly due to its favorable climate. 
H. Hattori’ has studied the action of copper sulphate on certain 
plants during considerable periods and agrees with those who have 
previously investigated the effects produced by copper salts in finding 
that it is extremely toxic in its action. Amputated conifer twigs, 
seedlings, pot plants, and molds were used in his experiments. 
Little that is entirely new has been developed, but a number of 
interesting things are reported. Among others is the fact that 
copper sulphate in a solution containing 0,000,001 per cent of the 
salt is not harmful to corn seedlings cultivated in it for considerable 
periods. The capacity of the soil for fixing considerable quantities 
of salt supplied to it in solution accounts for the greater amount of 
copper endured by plants grown in pots of earth. Molds grown in 
copper containing culture media were found to be stimulated by 
minimal amounts of the metal, 0,004 per cent to 0,008 per cent 
being indicated for Aspergillus and Penicillium, respectively. 
T. Inui? has studied the lower plant organisms connected with the 
preparation of awamori, an alcoholic, whisky-like beverage brewed 
in the Luchu Islands (situated between Formosa and the Kiushu 
Islands). 
Boiled rice or millet is inoculated from material of former cultures 
and, after sufficient growth has been made first on the grain in a 
! Kusano, S. Transpiration of Evergreen Trees in Winter, Journ. Coll. of Sci., 
imp. iq ere vol. xv, pt. iii (1901), pp. 313-366. 1 pl. 
? Hat H. Studien über die Einwirkung des Kupfersulfats auf einige 
PUn telis Coll. of Sci, Imp. Univ. Tokyo, vol. xv, pt. iii (1901), pp. 371- 
3094 TN. 
.$ Inui, T. ANIM. über die niederen Oryininnes welche sich bei der 
;Zebostung des iibubclidus Getiankes “ Awamori” betheiligen, Journ. Col. 
4f N me ioa vol. mae iii (1891), pp. 465-478. 1 pl. 

