Morphologie etc. — Varietäten, Descendenz, Hybriden. 117 



cotyledonous in type and there is a strong development of scleren- 

 chyma in the stele. The course of development is that the mucila- 

 ginous root-cap allows the root to pass through sandy soil without 

 drying up. Sand-grains are embedded in the mucilaginous sheath. 

 The piliferous layer gives off root-hairs which embed themselves in 

 the sheath. 



This adaptation is regarded as effective for water-absorption 

 and for protection, the mucilage playing an important part. Aristida 

 obtusa Delile and Lygeum spartum Lofl., also examined, showed 

 the sand-sheath with mucilage. Bromus tectorum has a sheath with 

 some indication of mucilage- formation, but it mainly consists of long 

 root-hairs with sand-grains entangled. Schismus calycinus and Hor- 

 deum murinum also have sheaths but no mucilage. The general 

 bearing of these roots for desert-grasses is briefiy discussed. The 9 

 figures give anatomical details for A. pungens and Lygeum. 



W. G. Smith. 



Bain , S. M., A cotton Variation with a self-fertilized an- 

 cestry. (Am. Breeders Mag. IL p. 272—276. Fig. 1—2. Dec. 1911.) 



A seif fertilized plant of Tennessee Greenseed produced a 

 distinct number of plants which in contrast with the majority from 

 the same plant were later maturing, at least a third taller and 

 with seed larger and smoother. Moore. 



Davy, J. B., Observations on the inheritance of charac- 

 ters in Zea mays. (Science. II. 34. p. 576. 1911.) 



Notes occurrence of red pigment in the aleurone layer of the 

 grain of a red dent breed and gives results of crossing with a 

 white sugar breed in terms of color, starchiness and sugaryness. 

 A study of row numbers in maize-ears indicates that within certain 

 limits the number is subject to fluctuating variations, which may be 

 affected by season or food supply or both. A white cobbed breed 

 crossed with a red cobbed produces a red cob in the F v generation 

 and so does the reciprocal cross. Moore. 



East, E. M„ The genotype hypothesis and hybridization. 

 (Amer. Nat. XLV. p. 160—174. 1911.) 



Crosses between a medium-sized flint maize and a tall dent 

 maize as well as a dwarf pop maize and a sugar com, showed that 

 unquestionable segregation in size characters between the F : and F 2 

 generations had taken place. From the number of extreme segre- 

 gates obtained in each case it is supposed that the size of the ear 

 obtained from certain crosses may be due to not less than three 

 characters in one case and four characters in another. Moore. 



Green, N. S., A new method of handling p ollen. (Amer. 

 Breeders Mag. II. p. 52—54. 1911.) 



Use of empty "quinine capsules" for storing pollen, which is 

 available at a moment's notice and once filled may last an entire 

 season. Moore. 



