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



1915. GuiLLEMiNOT, H. Le deuxieme postulat du calcul des probabilites et la loi d'option 

 dans revolution de la matiere vivante. [The second postulate of the calculus of probabilities 

 and the law of option in the evolution of living matter.] Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. Paris 169: 

 993-995. 1919. — Organic phenomena differ from inorganic in that the probability of a given 

 reaction of an organism is affected by its prior reactions. — John Rice Miner. 



1916. Haecker, V. Uber weitere Zusammenhange auf dem Gebiete der Mendelfor- 

 schung. [On further correlations in the field of Mendelian investigation.] Pfliigers Arch. 

 Ges. Physiol. 181: 149-169. 1920. — A theoretical discussion of relations between mode of 

 development of characters and mode of inheritance. Author holds that characters which are 

 caused in a simple way and undergo autonomic development from the first appearance of the 

 "anlage" are apt to show clear-cut segregation, while characters which are caused by a com- 

 plex of causes and with correlative development tend to show more or less departure from the 

 Mendelian scheme, as irregular dominance, unusual ratios caused by impure segregation, 

 modifiability by selection, and, if pathological, correlation or alternation with other anoma- 

 lies. A given character of the 1st class is likely to appear in many more or less closely related 

 species, while characters of the 2nd class tend to be limited to one species. Those of the 1st 

 class arise by mutation, those of the 2nd by gradual change ; those of the 1st class are degenera- 

 tive or of no biologic significance, while the 2nd class includes the adaptive and other species- 

 forming changes. — Setvall Wright. 



1917. Harland, S. C. Inheritance of certain characters in the cowpea (Vigna sinensis). 

 II. Jour. Genetics 10: 193-205. 1920. — Experimental genetic data on 4 series of characters 

 in cowpea — anthocyanin in stem and leaf stalk, seed-coat pattern color, pod color, and flower 

 color. Results on Fi, F2, and F3 generations are given. Anthocyanin coloration in stem and 

 leaf stalk is due to factor A', dominant to its absence. Seed-coat pattern colors — black, 

 brown, buff, maroon, red, and white— result from various combinations of 4 factors, B (black), 

 N (buff), M (maroon), and R (red), and their absences. New-Era pattern of seed coat is 

 due to factor E, which expresses itself only in the presence of R. The albino type, Para, car- 

 ries 2 seed-coat pattern factors, D and H (either Hi or H2), which produce no visible expres- 

 sion except in the presence of R. Purple-pod types differ from green-pod types by 1 main 

 factor, P, although F2 ratio suggests that more than 1 pair of factors may be involved. Purple 

 pod is partially dominant in Fi. Pigment factors B (black) and E (New Era) show repulsion 

 on a basis probably higher than 1 :15. Factor B also shows repulsion with factor P (purple 

 pod), probably on a basis higher than 1 :7. Tinged flower color is due to factor G, dominant 

 to its absence but recessive to D, the factor for dark flower color. — Orland E. White. 



1918. Harland, S. C. Inheritance in Ricinus communis L. Part 1. Jour. Genetics 

 10: 207-218. 1920. — Experimental results involved data on 3 sets of characters, as follows: 

 Presence and absence of a waxy bloom on stems, petioles and capsules; presence and absence 

 of spines on capsules; and stem colors of 4 kinds. Previous investigations are reviewed. 

 Fi, F2, and F3 results are tabulated. Presence of bloom (B) is partially dominant to its 

 absence (6). Spiny capsule (S) is partially dominant to its absence, smooth capsule (s). Two 

 pairs of factors are concerned in crosses involving stem color, as green X mahogany gave 

 in Fi, rose, which in F2 gave approximately 9 rose: 3 mahogany: 3 green: 1 tinged. The 

 results are interpreted as due to combinations of 2 pairs of factors — the presence and absence 

 of M (mahogany) and the presence and absence of G (green). The F2 ratio would be 9 MG: 

 Z Mg : S niG : \mg. Experiments so far show that S and M, S and B, M and G, and perhaps 

 G and B are not linked. Factors M and B show repulsion in cross Mb X mB. — Orland E. 

 White. 



1919. Hartley, C. P., and H. S. Garrison. Reproducing power of well-filled vs. poorly 

 filled ears of maize. Amer. Nat. 55 : 184-187. 1 fig. 1921 .—Occasionally poorly fertilized ears 

 of maize are found in which the failure to develop seed normally is due to accidental causes. 

 An effort was made to determine whether the yielding power of such ears was as great as 

 that of ears normally fertilized. Poorly fertilized ears were produced artificially by 2 methods, 



