154 GENETICS [BoT. Absts., Vol. VIII, 



both parental germ-cells, inevitably prevent full development." Besides it must be recog- 

 nized that there is probably a frequent failure of fertilization of the egg, even when condi- 

 tions would seem to be propitious. From these considerations it is clear that the father as 

 well as the mother may "determine whether both of a pair of simultaneously ovulated eggs 

 shall be fertilized, and whether or not they shall receive lethal factors." There follow 

 comments on uniovular twins and a plea for more complete and accurate observational data 

 by obstetricians. — Howard J. Banker. 



1072. Deane, W., and M. L. Fernald. A new albino raspberry. Rhodora 22: 112. 

 1920. — A new amber-white or honey-colored raspberry was found by Mr. Robert A. Ware 

 on Caribou Mountains, Maine, in 1919. This is a variant of Rubus idaeus var. canadensis, 

 and should be called Riibus idaeus L. var. canadensis Richardson, forma Warei. The New 

 England "white"-fruited raspberry already known is a form of Rubus idaeus var. strigosus. 

 [See also Bot. Absts. 7, Entry 1432.] — Francena R. Meyer. 



1073. Dickson, M. E. Elements of higher fecundity. Michigan Acad. Sci. Ann. Rept. 

 21: 145-146. 1919. — Fecundity in fowls is limited chiefly by vitality of individual. Breeding 

 for egg production does not increase vitality. It may even cause decrease of vigor, thereby 

 defeating its purpose. In such cases out-crossing is used to restore vigor and hence to 

 increase production. In selecting for vigor, criteria are size of fowl, early maturity, and 

 rapidity of feathering and moulting. Variety of fowl is of little importance except that 

 meat-producing breeds are to be avoided, evidence of this conclusion coming from egg- 

 laying contests in several states. Environment and geaeral managiemient are more important 

 than breed, since many brjeeds aire about equally productive. — A. Franklin Shull. 



1074. Donoaster, L. Note on an experiment dealing with mutation in bacteria. Proc. 

 Cambridge Phil. Soc. 19: 269. 1919. — It was noticed that the recorded ratio of occurrences 

 in cases of meningitis of the 4 agglutination-types of Meningococcus correspond very closely 

 with the ratio of occurrence of the 4 iso-agglutinin groups of blood in a normal human popu- 

 lation. — It seemed possible, therefore, that by growing Meningococcus of one type in media 

 containing human blood of different groups, mutation to other types might be induced. 

 Experiment showed that considerable differences in type of agglutination resulted, but it 

 was concluded that this was caused by sorting out of races of different agglutinability from 

 a mass culture rather than by true mutation. — L. Doncaster. 



1075. Fehlinger, H. Rassenmassige Variation der Korpergrosse beim Menschen. 

 [Racial variations of body size in man.] Aus der Natur 16 : 212-215. 1920. 



1076. Fruwirth, C. BeitrSge zu den Grundlagen der Ziichtung einiger landwirtschaft- 

 licher Kulturpflanzen. V. GrSser. [Contributions to the fundamental principles of cultiva- 

 tion of several agricultural plants. V. Grasses.] Naturw. Zeitschr. Forst- u. Landw. 18: 

 169-178. 1920. — The present paper supplements a previous article of the author appearing 

 in Vol. 14, 1916, of this publication. He describes further experiments in cross and self- 

 fertilization, and concludes, in general, that among the grasses sterility predominates in 

 self-fertilization and that it is possible to find entire vegetative issues which produce no 

 fruit; then again, that individuality is present, and that individuals and often entire vege- 

 tative offspring can be singled out, which produce an appreciable, often plentiful, crop of 

 fruit, as a result of self-fertilization. In the cultural practice, the production of seed by 

 self-fertilization will be more or less difficult, for the probability of securing fruit is not 

 strong, and much of the fruit will be sterile. — J. Roeser. 



1077. Garber, R. J. A preliminary note on the inheritance of rust resistance in oats. 

 Jour. Amer. Soc. Agron. 13:41-44. 1921. — Author finds evidence of a single hereditary 

 factor-difference with respect to the rust reaction of the host plants used as parents. Resist- 

 ance apparently behaves as a dominant character in the crosses made. — F. M. Schertz. 



