NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



475 



killed was of- the same length. Young parts perished sooner than 

 older ones. 



The author does not think that the conducting channels are them- 

 selves injured, and that it is because of this that insufficient water is 

 carried up the stem. Nor does he think that poisonous substances 

 given off by the dead cells penetrate to the uninjured part. He finds 

 no trace of any action of this kind and does not agree with Dixon, who 

 supposed that something of this sort happened. So far as regards the 

 stem and leaves above the injured portion, it is not a case of withering 

 in consequence of death, but a case of death in consequence of wither- 

 ing. In none of his 800 plants did he find any trace of injury to the 

 stem and leaves helow the part killed by steam, ether, or xylol. 



The living cells of stem and petiole must, in his view, give some 

 active help in the ascent of water, but the amount of help so given 

 {Krafthomponente) by these hving cells seems to vary in different 

 |}lants. He does not find that they only prevent lateral exudation of 

 water, as Ursprung supposed. 



His researches do not show which particular cells or tissues are 

 especially important in this respect. — G. F. S.-E. 



Bacterial Soft Rots of Certain Vegetables. By H. A. Harding, 

 W. J. Morse, and L. E. Jones {U.S.A. Exp. Stn. New York, Tech. 

 Bull. 11, Nov. 1909). — This bulletin deals with a group of bacteria 

 which cause soft rots in a variety of vegetables. Forty-three strains of 

 bacteria isolated from six different vegetables were cultivated, and it was 

 found that in their morphological characters and cultural characteristics, 

 with the exception of their powers of fermenting sugars, the strains were 

 absolutely alike. Whether they belong to one species or to many can 

 only be answered when the study of their pathogenicity which is now 

 in progress is completed. Mr. Jones deals with the enzyme, pectinase, 

 which these bacteria produce, and shows how it was isolated and 

 sLudied.— F. J. C. 



Bean Production. By W. F. Eaven {U.S.A. Exp. Stn. 

 ■Michigan, Bull. 259). — Michigan occupies the first place in bean pro- 

 duction amongst the States, and it is important for the farmers to' have 

 the best information with regard to this crop. Hence this bulletin, 

 which gives clear and precise directions as to soils, varieties, harvesting, 

 marketing, and threshing. The diseases noticed are the so-called 

 " rust " or anthracnose, which can only be controlled by the use of 

 clean seed, and the bean blight " or bacteriosis, w^here, again, seed 

 selection and crop rotation are the best remedies. — G. H. L. 



Bee-keeping-, Hawaiian, A Brief Survey of. By E. F. 



Phihips {U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Bur. Ent., Bull. 75, part v.; illustrated). 

 Bee-keeping is considerably practised in the Hawaiian Islands. 



The colonies, numbering about 20,000, are mostly in the hands of 

 four American corporations, but a few smaller apiaries are Japanese. 



