FIELD CROPS. 



635 



Inheritance of fasciation in Zea mays, H. Hus and A. W. Muedock (Plant 

 World, 14 (1911), No. Jf, pp. 88-96, fig. 1). — In a general discussion of the ques- 

 tion of the inheritance of teratological characters, the author gives the 

 results of experiments on the inheritance of fasciation of the ears of Z. mays 

 everta. A comparison of the results obtained from unfasciated and from 

 fasciated ears indicates that fasciation is not a matter of mere accident but 

 one of inheritance, and is subject to the same laws as are other characters. 



A case of gametic coupling in Pisum, P. de Vilmorin and W. Bateson 

 (Proc. Roil. Soc. [Loiinon\. Her. B. SJ, (1911), No. B 568, pp. 9-11, fig. 1).— 

 Observations are reported on breeding experiments with peas in which there 

 was found a coupling of the factors of round peas and tendril bearing and 

 wrinkled peas and nontendril bearing. The results of a series of observations 

 on the F4 generation showed that for the round seed 319 bore tendrils and 4 

 were without, while the wrinkled seed gave 3 teudriled and 123 nontendriled 

 leaves. 



On gametic coupling and repulsion in Primula sinensis, R. P. Gregory 

 (Proc. Roy. Soc. [London], Ser. B, 84 (1911), No. B 568, pp. 12-15).— The re- 

 sults are given of crossing different races of Primula, colors and length of style 

 being contrasted. 



On the microflora of soils in the vicinity of Bome, R. Perotti (Atti R. 

 Accad. Lined, Rend. CI. Sei. Fis., Mat. e Nat., 5. ser., 20 (1911), /, No. 9, pp. 

 690-694). — In a general discussion of the bacteria of these soils the author tabu- 

 lates the number of bacteria i^r cubic centimeter of soil at depths of 10, 20, 35, 

 and 50 cm. in tufaceous and other soils during the different months of the year, 

 and compares the microflora of these soils. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Work of the Gocding substation, F. D. Farrell {Idaho Country Life, 4 

 (1911), No. 9, pp. 13-15, 79). — During the duty of water investigations reported 

 in these pages it was observed that the average weekly evaporation was 1.79 

 in., and the maximum and minimum 2.44 and 1.01 in., respectively. The pre- 

 cipitation during the growing season, or from April 1 to September 30, was 1.41 

 in. The principal data secured are given in the following table: 



Yields of field crops secured in duty of xoater investigations. 



It is noted that the yield was almost directly proportional to the amount of 

 water applied, but that a point of diminishing return was finally reached, the 

 eflSciency of the water being highest on a series of 27 plats not included in the 

 above table when approximately 12 in. of water was applied. 



Reports of the yields of various other crops are given. In a test of 32 

 varieties of spring wheat, all irrigated 4 times, the durum variety Pellister 

 produced the highest yield, 40.15 bu. per acre. Among 4 barleys White Smyrna 



