VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 59Chemistry of Vegetable Physiology and Agriculture.Artificial Generation of Spleen-Fungus. By H. BUCHNER(Ried. Cewtr,, 1880, 594--598).-The fungus which causes inflam-mation of the spleen in animals can be slowly transformed into haybacteria by contiuuous cultivation in a solution of extract of meat forsome mont,hs, and the comerse of this change of form may be effectedby the growth of hay bacteria in blood,The Function of Fat in Germination. By A. LADUREAU (Bied.Centr., 1880, 628).-When seeds are brought in contact with water,J. I(. C60 ABSTRACTS OF CHEMICAL PAPERS.decomposition and acidification of the contained fatty matter is pro-duced, whereby heat is evolved and germination is hastened.J. K. C.Growth of Sprouts on Potatoes.By K. KRAES (Bied. Cerh-.,1880, 602--606).-The sprouts on potatoes flourish in proportion totheir nearness to the apex of the tuber. Treatment with water insunlight iocreases the growth forty or fifty times, although this is notthe case in the dark. For the growth of the young tubers, absence oflight is necessary. J. K. C.Vegetation of Oil-producing Plants. By MAQUENNE (Bied.Centr., 1880, 630).-The formation of highly-reduced oils is notaccompanied by a loss of oxygen in the whole plant. In all oil-pro-ducing plants there exists an easily oxidisable substance, similar in itsproperties to tannin. J. K. C.Distribution of Sugar in Sorghum. By P. MEUNIER (Bied.Centr., 1880, 629) .-The amount of cane-sugar gradually decreasesfrom the lowest part t o the summit of the cane, whilst the middle isrichest in glucose.Pressure in Plant-stems.By J. BOHM (Bied. Centr., 1880,629).-This pressure the author attributes to the evolution of gases inthe stem, and not to osmotic forces.J. K. C.J. I(. C.Successful Growth of Flax in Saxony. By OEHME andothers (Bied. Centr., 1880, 598--60G).-In the case of one field, aprofit of 80 per cent. was obtained on the total outlay connected withthe culture and cleaning of the flax.Cultivation of Beet. By E. WOLLNY (Bied. Centr., 1880, 606-613).-The author shows that a certain amount of room, varying withthe sort of plant, is necessary to obtain the maximum yield. With regardto ridging of the plants, transplanting, &c., the author's results agreewith those of former investigators.J.K. C.J. K. C.Experiments with Various Kinds of Beet. By C. BRTER andL. JEHLE (Bied. Cenntr., 1880, 624-626) .-Further experiments arenecessary to determine which of the 13 kinds of beet under investiga,-tion are best for the soil where the experiments were carried out', asthe results were very irregular.Cultivation of Beetroot. By A. PAGNOUL ( B i d Centr., 1880,629) .-These researches are merely of local interest.J. K. C.J. K. C.Influence of Trenching on the Temperature and Moistureof Soil. By E. WOLLNY (Bied. Centr., 1880, 563--567).-Experi-ments with five different kinds of soil showed that the temperaturewas raised in the day and lowered a t night by trenching the earth,the mean temperature being, however, greater than on level soil.Theamount of moisture was less in the trenches than on the flat. ThesVEGETABLE PIISSJOLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 6 1observations are explained by the fact that there is a greater sur-face exposed in the trenches, and consequently radiat,ion is greater atnight: also, that the sun’s rays fall more perpendicularly on parts ofthe trenches than on level ground. J. K. C.Descent of Rain-water down Tree Stems. By W. RIEGLER(Ried. Centr., 1880, 561-563) .-The quantity of rain-water whichtrickles down the trunks of trees to the earth varies with the upwardor downward extension of the branches and the force of the rainfall.In the case of firs, it is much less than in beech and oak.J.K. C.Worthlessness of Phosphates as Manure for Certain Soils.By P. P. DEHORAIN and MEYER (Bied. Centr., 1890, 567--570).--Inthe case of a field at Grignon, phosphate, when used as manure,wsts found to produce no effect, although the soil was not rich inphosphates. J. K. C.Curacao Guano. By F. HUL~-A (Bied. Centr., 1880, 626-627).-This gmno is of very uniform quality, containing about 88 per cent. ofcalcium triphosphate, and is easily soluble in acid. J. I(. C.Manuring Experiments on Arable Land. By A. SCHUMACHER(Bied. Cent?.., 1880, 580-5859 .-The manure used was superphos-phate and Chili saltpetre. The results were, however, not successful,as the quantity employed was insufficient. J. K. C.Manuring Experiments with Mangold Wurzel and Beet.By H. POGGE-ROGGOW (Bied. CeuLtr., 1880, 572-575).-The mangoldswere manured with Chili saltpetre and superphosphate, which inevery case more than paid f o r itself, whereas the 24 experimentswith beet were all, with one exception, unsuccessful in a pecuniarypoint of view.Analysis of Pond Slime. By HOLDEFLEISS (Bied. Centr., 1880,627).-The percentage of nitrogen varied from 0.78 to 0.07; ofphosphoric acid, 0.15 to 0.02; of potash, from 0.15 t o 0.10; and oflime, from 0.75 to 0.26 in the upper and lower layers of slime.J. K. C.J. K. C.Best Method of Manuring Potatoes.. By PXTOW-LALEBDORF(Bied. Centr., 1880, 575--577).-The most successful method seems tobe to partially dig the manure into the soil.Manuring of Beetroot. By A. DUDOUY ( B i d Centr., 1880,570-571) .-The author concludes from his experiments that potashhas an injurious action on the amount of sugar in the root; thisinference, however, can hardly be considered as established by the re-sults obtained. J. K. C.J. K. C