44 GENETICS [Bot. Absts. 



and microphthalmus), probably so little because marriage is rarely seen among these dis- 

 eased people. Author's conclusions harmonize with the casuistic communications of hered- 

 ity, etc., found in ophthalmic literature, of which the author cites many examples. 152 per- 

 sons of male sex and 90 of female were affected; the difference was found especially in albin- 

 ism, atrophia nervi optici, atrophia retinae pigmentosa and buphthalmus. In the final 

 chapter author makes some remarks about prophylaxis. He reviews the dominant, gyne- 

 phoric and recessive abnormal characters of the eye. He is convinced that positive eugenics 

 can never be rational and absolutely effective, but if marriage is disadvised to sufferers from 

 dominant diseases, and to blood-relations, and if syphilis is thoroughly combatted, the num- 

 ber can be fairly restricted. — P. J . Waardenburg. 



300. Weatherwax, Paul. Variation and varieties of Zea Mays. Proc. Indiana Acad. 

 Sci. 1917: 99-103. 1918. — To show great range of variability in maize author mentions 

 numerous contrasting characters with respect to various plant parts. The fallacy of existing 

 system of classification, resting as it does upon merely incidental variations which happen 

 to be for most part connected with endosperm, is pointed out. Author suggests the best 

 taxonomic treatment would be "to consider Zea a monotypic genus and discard all other 

 names than Zea mays L." — L. H. Smith. 



301. Weatherwax, Paul. Improved technique for corn pollination. Proc. Indiana Acad. 

 Sci. 1917: 105-107. 2 fig. 1918. — Description of a device used in artificial pollination of maize 

 for protecting the stigmas. Paraffined paper envelope is formed and attached to shoot in 

 Buch manner as to permit application of pollen without removing this protecting envelope. 

 Advantages lie in convenience of manipulation and relative freedom from contamination 

 during the pollinating process. — L. H. Smith. 



302. Weatherwax, Paul. The evolution of maize. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club. 45 : 309-342. 

 S6 fig. Aug., 1918— Rev. in: Bot. Gaz. 67: 104. Jan., 1919. [See also Bot. Absts. 1, Entry 

 503; 2, Entry 76.] 



303. Weatherwax, Paul. The morphological basis of some experimental work with 

 maize. Amer. Nat. 53: 269-272. May- June, 1919. — Since in Country Gentleman sweet corn 

 a second flower, usually abortive, becomes functional, the spikelet produces two grains and, 

 as a result of this crowding, straight rows are more or less modified for more economical space 

 arrangements. Genetical studies on the two-flowered condition would probably yield clearer 

 results than genetical studies on irregularities of the rows (East and Hayes). Hermaphrodite 

 flowers of maize are possible because the young flower contains primordia of both stamen and 

 pistil, one or the other of which usually does not develop to maturity. The acquisition of 

 hermaphrodite flowers of maize as the result of injury to the plant (Blaringhem) is not to be 

 interpreted as a progressive mutation since it brings into development rudimentary organs 

 that are vestiges of organs that have been, and are not the forerunners of organs that are to 

 be. — B. M. Davis. 



304. White, E. A. Methods of rose-breeding. Amer. Rose Ann. 1918:51-55. 7 fig. 

 1918. — Account of rose-breeding methods for amateurs. Details regarding best groups, ideal 

 types, methods of growing parent plants, cross-pollination, after-treatment of crossed flow- 

 ers, and sowing and care of hybrid seed are given. — Orland E. White. 



305. Wicks, W. H. The effect of cross-pollination in size, color, shape and quality of the 

 apple. Arkansas Agric. Exp. Sta. Bull. 143. 19 p., 9 pi. Mar., 1918. — Investigation during 

 seasons of 1915, 1916, and 1917 dealt with effect of pollen upon size, shape and quality of apple. 

 Hand pollinations were made in fertile combinations of Ben Davis, Grimes, Jonathan, and 

 Winesap. Self-pollinated specimens were used each year as basis for comparing effect of 

 pollen in the crosses. — From 11,290 hand pollinations 773 apples were obtained. The form 

 and ground color of the apples of all crosses were consistently typical of the variety. Results 

 showed necessity for cross pollination in the four varieties under test. Cross pollination 



