94 GENETICS [Bot. Absts., Vol. IV, 



result of the cross. Further work with smooth-awned sorts is under way. A cross between 

 Manchuria and South African, a low-yielding, stiff-strawed variety, has given two selections 

 of high yielding-ability and stiffer straw than the Manchurian parent. Results reported show 

 necessity of severely testing new products in various state localities before distributing the 

 same. — Alvin Kezer. 



594. Harland, S. C. The improvement of the yield of Sea Island cotton in the West Indies 

 by the isolation of pure strains. Pt. II. West Indian Bull. 17: 210-236. 1919.— For first part 

 of this paper see Bot, Absts. 3, Entry 359. Second part deals with inheritance of length of 

 fiber, weight of fiber per seed (lint index) and per boll, and weight of seed. Selection in a 

 mixed stock for increased values for these characters gave positive results up to a certain point, 

 when homozygosity was probably attained, since thereafter selection was apparently ineffec- 

 tive. A high positive correlation was found to exist between weight of fiber and weight of 

 seed, and between weight of fiber per seed and per boll and yield of fiber per acre. Length 

 of fiber and weight of fiber appear to be negatively correlated.— T. II. Kearney. 



595. Harris, J. Arthur, axd Francis G. Benedict. Biometric standards for energy 

 requirements in human nutrition. Sci. Monthly 1919: 385-102. 8 fig. May, 1919.— This 

 paper is a more popular treatment of a technical paper. The data on the basal metabolism 

 of 136 men, 103 women, 51 male infants and 43 female infants were used. The aim of the 

 investigation was to determine the most accurate means of predicting from physical measure- 

 ment what the normal basal metabolism of an individual should be. The determination of 

 these basic equations involved the calculation of the correlations between body weight, stat- 

 ure, and age in relation to each other and to basal metabolism. From the multiple correla- 

 tions of these variables the prediction equations for basic metabolism involving body weight, 

 stature and age are determined. Those equations are shown to be accurate within an average 

 plus or minus error of 5.30 per cent, — Illustration of the use of these equations is given for 

 diabetic, vegetarian, and sex data on basal metabolism. The conclusions are that diabetes 

 increases the basal metabolism of the affected individual 11.55 per cent; no difference in the 

 basal metabolism of the vegetarian is noted; women have a lower basal metabolism than men. 

 The difference in the basal metabolism of men and women is not evidenced by these data in 

 infancy, but is in old age. — John W. Gowen. 



596. Harrison, J. W. Heslop. Studies in the hybrid Bistoninaa. III. The stimulus of 

 heterozygosis. Jour. Genetics 8: 259-265. 2 fig. Sept., 1919.— Hybrids between different 

 genera show that, as the phylogenetic differences in the forms united increased, there was a 

 concomitant and proportional increase in physiological robustness of the hybrid organism ex- 

 pressed in: (1) a size increased beyond the theoretical expectation; (2) an acceleration in 

 the speed of feeding up of the larvae; (3) great disease-resisting powers; (4) an enormous 

 reduction of the time of lying over. Wing expanse larger by from 2 to 8 per cent in a series 

 of crosses. Cell size greater in one hybrid examined. Heterosis in this material is considered 

 to be directly dependent on the cumulative differences between the factors building up the 

 various genotypes and due to a physiological stimulus arising from either the reaction of 



le nucleus in female cytoplasm, or the heterogeneous nature of the zygote with respect 

 to the genes, or to the presence in a given cell of a greater number of units than it was 

 designed to receive. The reaction of other than Mendelian factors is thought to assist in 

 process. Most of the hybrids are sterile but one exception gave great variability in the 

 ion. Attention is railed to the hybrid vigor, in itself, as an agencj' in increas- 

 ing variability in segregating generations. -D. F. Jones. 



597. 11 »N, J. W. Bbslop. Studies in the hybrid Bistoninae. IV. Concerning the 

 sex and related problems. Jour. Genetics 9: 1 -3s;. 1 pi., 10 fig. Dec, 1919. — The wingless 

 9 of A '", a European geometrid with 56 chromosomes (haploid number) produces 

 only male offspring (with t he epl ions noted below) when crossed with the c? of any of 

 the follow if 



