456 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 



at one of them in 1910 is given as — 63 0 F. to + 91 0 F., and at another 

 — 70°F. to -H85°F. (pp. 77-85). Strawberries are being hybridized 

 with the wild Fragaria chiloensis of the coastal regions and a number of 

 promising sorts have been obtained, though they are slow in developing 

 (pp. n-14). After several years of observation it is thought that no 

 apples of any of the varieties now known and cultivated can be success- 

 fully grown in any part of the country (p. 20). The cultivation of the 

 cherry and plum, too, is not hopeful in the open, but the currant, 

 gooseberry, and raspberry thrive and fruit as well as anywhere on 

 earth (p. 23). The wild raspberry has been found in abundance within 

 a degree of the Arctic circle. Of the cereals, barley is the most 

 promising up to the present, and the raising of new varieties is in 

 progress, the ideal being a variety which, in addition to other good 

 qualities, will mature fully in 90 days between seed-time and harvest. 

 In 1910 there were only 84 days between killing frosts in spring and 

 fall (p. 30). Barley is considered to have a wider field of usefulness 

 than oats in these latitudes, though several varieties of these are being 

 tested with good results, especially North Finnish Black. 



Alaskan soils yield but a limited supply of available plant food, 

 and soon become exhausted. Animal manure of any sort is scarce, 

 and the cost of artificial manures in the interior is almost prohibitive 

 (p. 38). The solution suggested is summer fallowing alternate years 

 and green manuring, combined with the application of such manures 

 as can be obtained. — A. P. 



Albuminoids and Invertase. By Sergius L. Ivanow (Beth, 

 Bot. Cent. Bd. 29, Abt. 1, Heft 1, pp. 144-158).— The author 

 tested plants, both when in the resting winter state and in flower, for 

 the presence of peptolytic ferments and invertase. 



The seeds of Brassica Napus oleifera gave a negative result. No 

 reaction for peptolytic ferments was found in any of the plants tested 

 when in the resting state (seeds, buds, leaves, rhizomes, or whole 

 plants such as Lemna, Seduni album, ' Cactus,' Polytrichum, and Lichens) . 

 Invertase was not found in Lilac and Mistletoe buds, in leaves of 

 Pinus and Agave, and in rhizomes of Convallaria and Iris germanica 

 but occurred in Coltsfoot rhizomes, Lemna, and Sedum album. 



When germinated plants were used peptolytic ferments were 

 found in Flax seedlings,* Cucumber,* Sunflower,* Lathyrus* and 

 Phaseolus seedlings, also in flowering plants of Hyacinth, Crocus 

 Scilla, Tulip,* Gagea* Agave* and Phyllocactus* but not in Viola* 

 Asarum* Anemone* Hellebore,* Shepherd's Purse,* Chelidonium, 

 Lemna* and Pulmonaria * ; nor in the developed buds of Lonicera* 

 and Sambucus* nor in roots and rhizomes (Paris, Polygonaium, Arum, 

 Phyteuma *), nor in the aerial parts of Paris, Polygonaium * Arum, 

 and Rye.* 



But these ferments occurred in Agaricus, ripening seeds and fruits 

 of Carica papaya, though not in those of Philodendron, Cucumis* 

 and Citrus* Lunularia gave no reaction. 



Those marked * also showed invertase. — G. F. S. E. 



