MARCH 19, 1921 abstracts: botany 137 



BOTANY. — Development of barley kernels in normal and clipped spikes and the 

 limitations of aivnless and hooded varieties. Harry V. Harlan and 

 Stephen Anthony. Journ. Agric. Research 19:431-472. Figs. 13. 1920. 

 The awns of barley are extremely harsh and are objectionable, both in 

 handling the crop and in feeding the straw. Awnless and hooded barleys 

 have not yielded as well as the awned sorts. The physiological value of the 

 awn was tested by clipping the awns from a large number of spikes. Growth 

 measurements taken by the method used in the study of the daily develop- 

 ment of kernels of Hannchen barley showed that the awn was necessary for 

 the maximum growth of the kernel. The kernels at maturity were not 

 only smaller but the daily increase in weight was less on the spikes from 

 which the awns were clipped. That this was not due to any injury of clipping 

 was evident from the fact that the growth for the first few days after the 

 removal of the awns was normal, the reduction in the daily increase of dry 

 matter not taking place until the period of rapid starch infiltration had begun. 

 The awns of Hannchen barley normally contain about 32 per cent of ash at 

 maturit}'. When the awns were clipped much of this ash was apparently 

 deposited in the rachis of the spike, causing the spikes to shatter while ripen- 

 ing. This may explain why the awnless and hooded varieties of barley are 

 more prone to shatter than the awned sorts. H. V. H. 



BOTANY. — Occurrence of the fixed intermediate, Hordeum intermedium haxtoni, 

 in crosses between H. vitlgare pallidum and H. distichon palmella. 

 Harry V. Harlan and H. K. Hayes. Journ. Agric. Research 19: 575- 

 591. Pis. 4. 1920. 



Hordeum intermedium is considered by the writers to be one of the four 

 species of cultivated barleys. It consists of a number of varieties several of 

 which are in field cultivation in different parts of the world. This species 

 has been isolated by the writer from a number of crosses between 6-rowed 

 and 2-rowed barleys. Heretofore plant breeders have considered that such 

 crosses give only three types, the 6-rowed, 2-rowed and the heterozygous 

 intermediate. H. V. H. 



HYDROLOGY.— SwrA^r^ waters of Vermont. C. H. Pierce. U. S. Geol. 

 Survey Water-vSupply Paper 414. Pp. 218, pis. 14, figs. 2. .1917. 



The rivers of "Vermont have figured largely in the growth and development 

 of the State. A brief introduction sketches the changes which have taken 

 place in the utilization of water-power since the early settlements. For- 

 tunately, pure water is abundant, so that the higher use for domestic and 

 municipal supply need not seriously interfere with its use for other purposes. 

 Tables are given which show the daily, monthly, and annual run-off for the 

 principal rivers as measured at regular gaging stations. Monthly discharge 

 of Lake Champlain outlet (Richelieu River) for the years 1S75-1916 is shown 

 for the purpose of comparing short time lecords on tributary streams with the 

 probable long term average. Precipitation records at Burlington for the 

 same period are also given. Deficiency tables for several rivers show the 

 number of days on which the discharge and corresponding horse-power per 

 foot of fall were less than the amounts given in the columns for discharge and 

 horse-power. Several maps accompany the report, a map of Vermont show- 

 ing principal drainage basins and location of gaging stations, scale 1 to 1,000,- 

 000, and river surveys of Winooski River drainage basin, scale 1 to 24,000. 



A gazetteer of streams is given which lists and describes the streams, lakes, 



