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



length and breadth, also ratio of width to length is of some importance. In selection 

 work types with leaves in which width is less than 60 per cent of length are rejected. 

 Leaves 11 to 15, counting from base of plant, were measured. Leaf with broad base is better 

 than one with narrow base. Leaf should be thin but strong, supple, elastic. Light colors 

 are much desired and fallow (vaal) shades are preferred over brown. Red colors are very- 

 undesirable. Color and other qualities are affected by soil, weather, and fertilizer, and 

 tobacco harvested in early morning cures a purer fallow (valer) than when harvested later 

 in day. Hence, precautions are required in testing inheritance of color. It appears from 

 extensive tests repeated on different estates that color and fineness of tobacco are hereditary 

 characteristics of the various selections. Results of rigorous comparisons made in 1916 and 

 1917 with a light-colored and a fallow-colored line, showing percentage yields of the different 

 colors for the leaves on lower half of the plant, are given in tables. On higher-lying soil 

 regularly producing darker tobacco the light-colored strain proved decidedly advantageous 

 while on low lands reddish and spangled colors were obtained in unfavorable weather. Con- 

 versely, the fallow line gave better colors on the low lands but a darker product on upland 

 soil. Plants have not yet been found fulfilling the ideal of (1) many leaves; (2) long leaves; 

 (3) broad leaves; (4) broad leaf base; (5) short internodes; (6) thin; (7) strong; (8) supple; 

 (9) light color; (10) tan shade; (11) good burn. "Light line" 1, however, is deficient only as 

 to (1) and (10). Light fallow line 72 produces more leaves and a truer fallow shade than the 

 preceding but has less desirable shape of leaf and longer internodes. [See also following 

 entry.] — W. W. Garner. 



1092. Honing, J. A. Selectie-Proeven met Deli-Tabak III. [Selection experiments with 

 Deli tobacco.] Mededeel. Deli Proefsta. Medan (Sumatra) 2 (no. 6): 25. 1919.— In con- 

 tinuation of previous work (Mededeel. Deli Proefsta. 10: 79-128 and 2d ser., no. 2, 84) 

 critical studies were carried forward with selections, originally obtained from commercial 

 plantings and again propagated in 1918, mainly as to color and length of the fermented 

 leaves taken from the lower half of the plant. In 1918 a total of 357 test plots of 800-1200 

 plants each, representing 54 lines, with mixed seed as controls, were grown on 12 different 

 estates. With the more promising lines large-scale trials also were made, in some cases 

 more than a million plants being grown. Detailed tabulated data are presented for 13 lines 

 in comparison with mixed seed from which each line was derived, based on 3 primary color 

 grades, with the customary commercial subdivisions of color shades, and the length of leaf. 

 In some instances statistical tables of number of leaves per plant are included. In general, 

 the results of comparisons in 1918 between the selections and mixed seed from which they 

 were derived are in good agreement with those of 1917, showing that the differences in color 

 and length of leaf are hereditary. Some of the selections proved to be segregating hybrids 

 with respect to number of leaves produced. [See also preceding entry.]— TF. W. Garner. 



1093. Howard Albert, and G. L. C. Howard. Some labour saving devices in plant- 

 breeding. Agric. Jour. India 15:5-10. PL 1. 1920.— For the prevention of crossing, 

 parchment bags are not suitable in India on account of high temperature and high humidity. 

 Cylindrical muslin covers gave better results with this work. For variety trials a large 

 netted drying house is used, and sheet iron metal cans are used for storing seed which have 

 previously been dried. — /. J. Skinner. 



1094. Humphrey, Seth K. The racial prospect. 261 p. Charles Scribner's Sons: New 

 York, 1920.— As stated in the sub-title, this is a "rewriting and expansion of the author's 

 book 'Mankind.' " It is in fact a revised edition of the former work presenting the same 

 fundamental ideas expanded rather than materially modified by the outcome of the war. 

 The racial heritage of the ages accumulated through natural selection tends to be dis- 

 sipated by civilization; for civilization preserves the defectives and permits their propaga- 

 tion while the best stock becomes increasingly infertile. There follows an inventory of 

 the racial values preserved in the leading nations. Hybridism of extremely diverse races, 

 as in America, is disastrous to the higher race. The struggle for racial dominance lies 



