164 Mr. E. H. Acton. The Assimilation of Carbon 



On planting out at the end of experiment the plants of Phaseolns 

 vulgaris and P. multiflorus, with two of the plants of Cheiranthus 

 Cheiri, died,* but the others, although evidently injured, did not die 

 within three weeks. 



With " Aldehyde-ammonia ."f 

 A. On Cut Branches. 



Solution used- 



Plants. 



Results. 



Culture solution + 

 1 per cent, alde- 

 hyde-ammonia 



Same solution as 

 above 



Alisma plantago 

 Ranunculus ac-ris 

 Tilia Europcea 

 Lilium candidum 



B. Supplied to Roots. 



Acer pseudoplat anus (3 plants) 

 Phaseolus vulgaris (2 plants) 

 Cheiranthus Cheiri (4 plants) 



No formation of starch 

 (4 days). 



No formation of starch 

 (8 days). 



All plants resumed, growth on being planted out. 



No. 5. Experiments with Glycerin. 



Commercial " pure glycerin " was used. 



A. Since A. Meyer^ has shown that leaves supplied with glycerin 

 do form starch, and E. Laurent § has confirmed this observation, I did 

 not repeat these experiments. 



* Since the free aldehyde is a very volatile substance, giving off vapour at ordi- 

 nary temperatures, it must be considered doubtful whether the injurious effect of 

 the substance in the above experiment is to be attributed, to action on the roots 

 in solution, or to action of the vapour on the leaves. 



A few drops of pure aldehyde allowed to evaporate under a receiver containing 

 a plant of Acer pseudoplatanus quickly (24 hours) caused the death of the latter, 

 as would be expected. 



f The compound aldehyde-ammonia, = CH a COH'I?II 3 , is probably amidethylic 

 alcohol, CH 3 CHNH 2 -OH. The tendency of this body to undergo condensation 

 changes with formation of basic nitrogen compounds is well known. (See ' Watts' 

 Diet, of Chem.,' vol. 1, London, 1888 ; " Aldines and Aldehydines.") 



t ' Botan. Zeitung,' 1886. 



§ Laurent, in ' Botan. Zeitung,' 1886, p. 151. 



