192 .TOUKXAL OF THE KOYAL HORTICULTCEAL SOCIETY. 



Report under notice, the plants being arranged in proper order of relative 

 susceptibility : — 



1. Charlock (Brassica Sinapistrum, Boiss.). 



2. White Mustard (Sinapis alba, L.). 



3. Eockcress (Arabis Icevigata, MuhL). 



4. Shepherd's-purse {Capsclla Biirsa-pastoris, L.). 

 o. Black Mustard {Brassica nigra, L.). 



6. Camelina sativa, L. 



7. Candytuft (Ibcris iimbellata, L.). 



8. Sweet Alyssum [Alyssum maritimum, L.). 



9. Radish (Baphanus sativiis, L.). 



10. Rocket {Hcspcris matronalis, L.). 



11. Stock {MattJiiola annua, Sw.). 



The last on the list was not attacked at all, although, like the rest, it 

 was grown on infected soil. In addition to Stock, the following Cruci- 

 ferous plants were found to withstand clubbing in infected plots : Lunaria 

 biennis, L., Watercress, Curled-cress; several kinds of garden Radish; 

 Arabis canadensis, L., and Arabis glabra, L. 



The present series of experiments also confirms the results obtained 

 in this country — namely, that the spores of the fungus can remain a long 

 time inactive in the soil. Further, that healthy soil can be easily infected 

 with diseased roots ajiplied directly to the soil, or as manure from stock 

 fed upon diseased roots, as the fungus, in its spore condition, can 

 evidently resist the digestive processes that arise in the alimentary tract 

 of a herbivorous animal. D. H. 



Ferments in Fungi. 



Ferments in Fungri which attack Trees. [Bci. Bot. Cent. bd. 10, 

 ht. 2, p. 90). Herr Kohnstamm has investigated the Enzymes or ferments 

 present in the dry-rot fungus Merulius lacliryniaus and Agaricns mellens, 

 &c. The fungus tissues were ground in quartzsand and kieselguhr, and 

 the fungus sap extracted by pressure. The liquid thus extracted was tested 

 with starch, &c., and the presence or absence of the enzymes recorded. A 

 diastase like that of malt was found in Agaricus nielleus, Merulius, and 

 Polyporus sguamosus. A ferment similar to emulsin, and attacking gluco- 

 sides, was discovered in Merulius and Polyporus but not in .1. mellens. A 

 ferment attacking proteids (proteolytic) was also discovered in all three of 

 these fungi, though it was somewhat feeble in the last-named. Cellulose- 

 destroying enzyme was also found in Merulius. These ferments are neces- 

 sary to the growth of the fungus. The amylase destroys the starch in the 

 w^oods attacked by the fungus ; the " emulsin " disintegrates the coniferin of 

 Coniferae, and the asculin of the Horse Chestnut ; whilst the j)roteolytic 

 ferment w^orks upon the protoplasm of the wood parenchyma and any 

 albuminoid substances present in the cells. All these bodies are thus 

 changed into solutions capable of nourishing the fungus. G. F. S.-E. 



Effects of Yaeious Salts. 



Effects of Solutions of various Salts on Weeds and Culti- 

 vated Plants. By B. Steglich. {Zeit. f. Pjianz. bd. xi. ht. 1, p. 81; 



