AGEICULTURAL, BOTANY. 325 



valuations of over 7,000 samples of mixed fertilizers and fertilizing materials, 

 among the latter being bone meal, tankage, cotton-seed meal, and fertilizer 

 chemicals. The analyses show a tendency for the complete fertilizers to be 

 deficient in nitrogen, but to exceed the guaranty in potash. 



In the case of cotton-seed meal, of which 1,023 samples were examined, 716 

 samples were equal to or above the guaranty, the average nitrogen fotmd in all 

 samples being 6.66 per cent as compared with 6.52 per cent guarantied. 



" The 106 Paris green samples received varied from 49.59 per cent to 59.25 

 per cent of arsenious oxid ; they averaged 55.87 per cent of arsenious oxid. 

 Only 1 sample fell below the guaranty of 50 per cent arsenious oxid, the 

 requirement of [the State] law." 



Analyses of commercial fertilizers (New York State Sta. Bui. 3^1, pp. 

 297-397). — This bulletin reports analyses of samples of fertilizers collected 

 during 1911, the actual analyses being compared with the guarantied composi- 

 tion in each case. A schedule of current values of fertilizing ingredients is 

 given and the method of calculating the value of fertilizers is explained. 



Fertilizer analyses, A. J. Patten, O. B. Winter, and C. G. Clippert (Michi- 

 gan Sta. Bui. 265, pp. 43). — ^Analyses and valuations of 230 brands of fertilizers 

 offered for sale in Michigan during the season of 1911 are reported. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



Breeding and the Mendelian discovery, A. D. Darbishire (London and New 

 Yark, 1911, pp. XII-\-282, pis. 3.J, fig. 1). — This book is intended as an introduc- 

 tion to the discoveries of Mendel and their application to the science of heredity 

 and the practice of breeding. The author has given a somewhat fuller account 

 of some of the phenomena observed by Mendel than has previously been pub- 

 lished, and the different pairs of characters studied by Mendel are figured and 

 described. Some of the more important lessons that the practical breeder can 

 learn from a study of Mendelism are pointed out, and the more interesting 

 biological questions are discussed. A glossary is given in which the more 

 technical terms used in breeding are defined. 



Perfect flowers in maize, E. G. Montgomery (Pop. Sci. Mo., 79 (1911), No. 4, 

 pp. 346-3)9. figs. 6). — The author describes a type of corn in which perfect 

 flowers were found. Some 30 plants were grown and all came true to type. 



Cytological studies of some cereals and their hybrids, M. Nakao (Jour. 

 Col. Agr. Tolioku Imp. Univ., 4 (1911). No. 3, pp. 173-190, pis. //).— The author 

 gives the results of studies on the nuclear division of the pollen mother cells 

 of wheat, barley, rye, and a wheat-rye hybrid. 



The effect of lime on the vegetation of some tropical mountain barrens, 

 C. C. HossEus (Bot. Jahrl). [Engler], 45 (1911), No. 5, pp. 661-669).— The re- 

 sults of studies on the flora of certain barren regions in the mountains of north- 

 em Siam are given. 



The soil seems to be derived almost completely from oolitic limestone, and 

 the vegetation is strikingly modified. The plants are mostly perennials, with 

 short, thick, woody stems, and greatly reduced and inrolled leaves with their 

 under sides covered with a felt-like mat of hairs. Most of the plants are 

 more or less covered with hairs throughout. The flowers are, to a consider- 

 able extent, light in color, and the buds are provided with protective scales. 

 The root system is as a rule much thickened. On the special geological forma- 

 tions described succulent plants with reduced spreading branches prevailed, 

 and in bamboos and similar plants growing on the limestone formations there 

 was a storage of water in the internodes, and a lack of flowers, due to rudi- 

 mentary flower formation. 



