330 EXPERTMENT STATION RECORD. 



The effect of luoistni-c in the :iir. ms well ;is some other faetors. on the vitality of 

 pollen has Iteen investigated. 



The author found a wide range of moisture required to pi'eserve the viability 

 of pollen for any lenjith of time, pollen grains of a species of Abutilon keeping 

 best where the atniosi»here contained GO to 90 per cent of moisture, while for 

 many other species of plants 30 per cent or less of moisture in the air proved 

 l)est. In no case were the pollen tubes found to withstand drying. The mini- 

 nnim temperatui'e for the germination of freshly collected pollen from winter or 

 early spring l)looming flowers was found to be 4 to 5° C. 



In a snpiilementary chapter the author gives data regarding the range and 

 optiintnn concentrations of sugar solutions for the gci'inination of pollen grains. 



Some factors controlling- fruit formation in Hymen omycetes, Elsik M. 

 Wakefield (Naturw. Ztscln: Foist, n. Jj(in<lir., 7 ( l!IO!}), \o. 11. i>p. 521-551, pi. 

 1, figs, 3). — Studies were conducted with SchizophyUum commune and Stereuni 

 purpurenm to determine the conditions under which sterile and fertile plant 

 bodies and fruiting organs are produced. 



As a I'csult of artificial cultures and observations on fungi grown under 

 natural conditions, the author claims that the tendency to form fruiting bodies 

 is an individual characteristic with these species and is perhaps the same for 

 all fungi. Through artificial cultures a race of continual spore-bearing genera- 

 tions lost to a marked degree the ability of producing plant bodies. It was 

 found ]iossible to induce the formation of fruiting bodies by reducing or entirely 

 removing the nutrition of the mycelium. 



The external conditions of light and transpiration w-ere found to play an 

 important part in the fruiting of fungi. Light seemed to have a direct effect, 

 and transi)iration, as influenced by the moisture of the air, was found to deter- 

 mine to a large degree the development of the fungi, the vegetative growth 

 being greatly increased where the transpiration was lowered by reason of a 

 saturated atmosphere, while the production of fruiting organs was favored by 

 an increased transpiraticm of dry air. 



Tulip thieves, B. A. Plemper van Balen (Meded. RijJcs Hoogere Land, Tuin 

 en lioschhouicscli., 1 {1908), pp. lJi'1-158). — An explanation is offered for the 

 nonfiow^ering of tulips when single leaves are put up from the bulbs instead of a 

 flower-bearing stalk. Various reasons have been given for this behavior, such 

 as atavism, degeneration, and bud variation. The author thinks, however, that 

 it is due to pressure within the bulbs, resulting from their growth in very rich 

 soils. The overfeeding of the bulbs, he claims, results in the production of a 

 single large leaf that rapidly develops at the expense of other portions of the 

 bulb and finally exerts so much pressure that tbe flower stalk is prevented from 

 developing. Such bulbs tend to perpetuate this character, especially if well 

 nourished, and when flowers are formed they are of very poor character. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Field experiments with farm crops, W. Saunders, J. H. Grisdale, W. T. 

 Macoun, F. T. Shutt, C. E. Saunders, R. Robertson, J. Murray, A. Mackay, 

 W. H. Fairfield, G. H. Hutton, and T. A. Sharpe {Canada Expt. Farms Rpts. 

 J909, pp. 6-32, 89-102, 119-122, U/O-lSl, 176-178, 200-20J,, 208-223, 2J,9-267, 271 

 275, 276-289, 303-320, 332-336, 3f,l-357, 368-391, m-J,09, pis. 8).— Results with 

 field crops in 1908 are reported in a manner similar to that of previous years 

 (E. S. R., 21 p. 321). At the various farms tests were conducted with numer- 

 ous varieties of each of the following crops: Corn, oats, two and six x'owed 

 barleys, spring, winter, and durum wheat, emmer, spelt, buckwheat, flax, spring 

 and winter rye, millet, horse beans, peas, field peas, alfalfa, red clover, alsike, 

 timothy, mangels, turnips, carrots, sugar beets, and potatoes. 



