982 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Chemistry of Vegetable Phgaiology and Agriculture. Disiafectanf Value of the Three Isomeric Cresols. RAPP (Chem. Zentr. 1907 ii 717; from Apoth. Zeit. 1907,22,643-644).-1t is shown that o-cresol although not equal to m-cresol in its bactericidal action is nevertheless as active as p-cresol. The isomeric chlorophenols are more active than the cresols; thus m-chlorophenol is five times more active than m-cresol. W. H. G. Losses of Ammonia from Culture Solutions. JACOB Q. LIPMAN and PERCY E. BROWN (J. Amer. Chem. Xoc. 1907 29 1358-1362).-0meliansky’s culture solution lost a considerable amount of ammonia in the process of sterilising and further losses occurred when the sterilised solution was kept for some days. There was also a loss when unsterilised solutions were kept.When calcium carbonate was employed instead of magnesium carbonate the loss of ammonia was less. The loss of ammonia is probably in some cases due t o liberation of nitrogen by the interaction of ammonia and nitrous acid. N. H. J. M. Manganese and the Development of Plants. 11. GIovmNr SALOMONE (Chem. Zentr. 1907 ii 999-1000 ; from Xtux. sperim. agrar. itat?. 1907,40,97-117).-Experiments carried out on a large scale in open fields confirm the results obtained previously (Abstr. 1906 ii 792). Of the many compounds of manganese employed maiiganousVEGETABLE PHYSIOLOClY AND AGRICULTURE. 983 sulphate manganoua nitrate and manganese dioxide were found to exert the most beneficial influence on the growth of corn. A table is given showing the proportions of the various manganese compounds which produce the best results also the quantities suflicient to kill plants in a few days.The Distribution of Prussic Acid in the Vegetable Kingdom. MAURITS GRESEOFF (Brit. Assoc. Beport 1906 76 13$-144).-Ths Report contains a complete list of plants in which hydrocyanic acid has been found and the author discusses the role of this acid in phyto- synthesis. a. T M. WYNDHAM R. DUNSTAN and THOMAS A. HENRY (Brit. Assoc. Report 1906 76 146-157).-The report contains a short description of each of the cyanogenetic glucosides and their enzymes. The physiological significance of cyanogenesis is also considered. G . T. M. . Revertase in Fungi. ENRICO PANTANELLI (Atti R. Accud. Lincei 1907 [v] 16 ii 419-428. Compare Abstr.1906 ii 623).-By the action on a freshly-prepared invert sugar solution of pastes of the rn ycelia of MUCOY rnucedo Penicilliunt g Zaucum Aspergillus niger and Botrytis cinerea the presence in these organisms of intracellular revertase as well as invertase is demonstrated. The revertase exhibits in general increased activity in a slightly alkaline solution. It is not strictly accurate t o speak of the revertive action of an enzyme since in no case does this action yield a compound capable of attack by the enzyme. Nitrogen Content of Wheat and its Distribution to Different Parts of an Individual Plant. R. W. THATCHER and H. R. WATKINS (J. Arner. Chem. Xoc. 1907 ZQ 1342-1351).-The total nitrogen was determined in the different parts of the different heads of wheat grown from a single seed.Results obtained with a considerable number of varieties of wheat grown in the same place showed that kernels which contain a high percentage of nitrogen are light in weight and contain low amounts of total nitrogen. The number of kernels in the spike increases with the length of the straw; there is also an increase in the weight of the kernels and of tbe nitrogen whilst the percentage of nitrogen diminishes. The differences between different spikes of a plant are chiefly due to differences in nutrition and other conditions and are not hereditary. All the heads of the same plant of average normal height are how- ever fairly similar and for the purpose of sampling for selection a single spike is suflicient. The average weight of kernel is about the same in the upper an4 lower spikelets but bigber i n the middle spikelets of the same head.The percentage of nitrogen increases from the top of the spike down- wards. Comparing the outer and inner kernels it is found that the former are invariably the heavier and contain the higher weights of nitrogen. The best grains as regards weight and nitrogen oontent are the outside ones from the middle of the spikelets. W. €3. G. The Chemical Aspects of Cyanogenesis in Plants. T. H. P. N. H. J. M. 67-2984 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS. Consumption of Nutrients by Seed Beets Parent Beets and Seedlings. 111. KARL ANDRL~K JOSEF URBAN and VLADIMIR STANEK (Zeitsch. Zuckerind. Bohrn. 1907 32 1-1 7. Compare this vol. ii 387).-Details are given of the composition of the roots leaves and stems of sugar-beets a t the various stages of their develop- ment during the second year of growth. The following estimations were made average weight dry matter sugar reducing substances pentosans total nitrogen proteins ash K20 Na,O CaO MgO Fe203+A1203 P,05 SO and GI. The results are given in both tabular and curve form. T. H. P. Effect of Solutions of Various Salts on the Permeability of the Boil. D. J. HISSINK (Chern. Weekbkcd 1907 4 663-673).- Distilled water and solutions of sodium chloride and potassium chloride diminish the permeability of the soil Solutions of ammonium chloride and potassium chloride increase the permeability a t first but finally diminish it. A 8 W.