Vol. XVII. No. isr,. 



THE AGRICULTURAL XEWS. 



4u:> 



build up from them a herd of pure-bred cattle for the 

 permanent benefit of the West Indies. Recent inves- 

 tigations into stock-breeding problems seem to render 

 this possible. 



In connexion with stock raising, reference must be 

 made to the benefits accruing from the adoption of dip- 

 ping or spraying for the control of ticks. The health of 

 the animals is thereby greatly improved and, inciden- 

 tally, some diseases such as 'skin disease' are likely to 

 be eradicated. 



There are various indications of progress in agri- 

 cultural matters in most of these islands, and signs 

 thbl something is being done to secure that efficiency 

 in production which alone will make agriculture sound 

 and remunerative. Attention is being given to 

 increased crop production as influeneed by soil prob- 

 lems, by the nature of the crops grown, and by 

 the animals employed in the industry. Much also has 

 been done to improve the method of sugar manufacture. 

 A substantial move has been made lu the direction of 

 mechanical haulage, including steam ploughing, motor 

 ploughing, and the use of motor traction gener- 

 alh — a movement which is certain to progress 

 rapidly in the near future. It would seem too, that 

 it is becoming recognized that agriculture once 

 more offers a useful career for young men of all 

 classes, and that a larger number are being attracted to 

 it than formerly; at the same time it is being recognized 

 that the higher branches of the work require sound 

 education and good training on the part of those con- 

 cerned, and agricultural education is calculated to be 

 stimulated thereby. 



It is well to look for thi:se signs of progress from 

 time to time, and to endeavour to foster them by 

 frankly discussing them. Such observation and discus- 

 -sion will tend to strengthen and coutirm progress, and 

 keep it on sound lines. 



DEPARTMENT NEWS. 



Mr. S. C. Harland, B Sc, Assistant for (.'otr.on 

 U(i.-earch, provided by the Imperial Department of 

 Agriculture and Scientific Research on the staff of the 

 Imperial Department of Agriculture for the UVst 

 indies, left St.. Vincent on I>ecember 27 for the pur- 

 pose of research work on cotton in Montserrat, where he 

 is expected to remain for about a month. 



A NOTE ON THE INHERITANCE OF 



ANTHOCYANIN PIGMENTATION IN 



CASTOR BEAN CROSSES. 



In a previou-5 num'jer ot the Aiiunlticrnl iVews 

 (Vol. XVII, p. 416) it was pointed out by Mr- S. C. 

 Harland that the presence and absence of 'bloom' in 

 the castor beau appeared to form an allelomorphic pair. 

 The cross under observation wis one between a semi- 

 wild type from St. Vincent and a viriety known as 

 Riii/u/s O/fisoiii- The latter is characterized by a .strong 

 development of anthocyanin pigmentation in stem, leaf cap- 

 sules, etc, and for this reason it is used e.Ktensively as an 

 ornamental plant in gardens. The native type is not al- 

 together devoid of colour, for the stem is distinctly tinged 

 with pink, and the veins of the leaf are seen with a strong- 

 lens to contain a certain amount of pigment. The e»psules,. 

 however, are green. 



The F, of the cross between these tw) varieties was 

 intermediate, inclining towards the green parent. The stenx 

 was strongly reddened, but the cjpsules were green. 



Segregation took p!a?e in F^> and classificition was 

 made into two groups, (a) capsules green, (b capsules red, 

 leaves more or less reddened, stein dark purple. If the 

 capsules were green the re^t of the plant was correspondinglj- 

 less coloured. The plants were also examine! for the presence 

 and absence of bloom, with the following result: — 



Capsule gteen. Capsule red. 



Bloom Bloom Bloom Bloom 



present absseut present absent. 



■ 74 28 22 9 

 J'.xpectation on 

 9: 3: 3: I basis 



74-8 24-9 24-9 83 



It will be seen that the above ratio is quite near to- 

 expectation on the assumption that the difference in the 

 amount of pigmentation of the two parents is due to a 

 sir.gle factor partially d iminant to its absence, and inherited' 

 independently of the factor for bloom. ' It must be - 

 pointed out that there was a certain amount of varia- 

 tion in the double recessive class, and this possibly 

 indicates that subsidiary factors may be concerned,. 

 having the effect of modifying the intensity of the pigmenta- 

 tion. 



OON.NKMON BETWEEN CLLOVR OF SEED ASH r.iLOUU OK 

 CAPSULE. 



The native parent had a seed of characteristic wirm- 

 brown pattern, while the seed of .^. Cr ' 'iS'//t f h\d a pattern 

 which was very dark brown, almost black in colour. The 

 seeds of the F, were quite uniform, and different from those 

 of either parent, being almost uniformly dark brown. It 

 was noticed that the plants with red capsule contained no< 

 plants with seeds of the characteristic F, pigmentation. This 

 seems to indicate that a genetic correlation exists between 

 seed coat pattern and pigmentation of the vegetative par;s. 

 It is intended to make further observations on this poiut 

 when the F^ cultures are available. 



