828 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



Analyses of fertilizers and cotton-seed meal, fall season, 1910, and spring" 

 season, 1911, B. W. Kilgore et al. (liul. N. C. Dcpt. Agr., 32 (1011), No. S, 

 pp. 151). — This bulletin contains analyses of fertilizers and cotton-seed nical 

 collected by Ibe fertilizer inspectors of the state department of agriculture 

 during the fall of 1010 and sjiring of 1911, as well ^s a list of brands of ferti- 

 lizers I'egistered for sale in 1011. 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



An introduction to vegetable physiology, J. II. Green {London, 1911, 3. ed., 

 pp. XXII+.'i70, figs. 182). — This new edition is tlie result of 10 years' experience 

 with the older worli and embodies many changes in the text. I*arts of tlie bool< 

 have been rewritten to incorporate the results of recent investigations, and 

 other parts rearranged, to the manifest advantage of the method of troatniont. 

 This is especially true of the chapter on the energy of plants, which now in- 

 cludes the material formerly discussed under respiration. An attempt has been 

 made to correlate more closely the structure of plants with their physiological 

 needs and to consider their general relations to environment. The fundamental 

 idea of the book is the plant as a living organism having certain properties and 

 powers, and how it meets its requirements. 



Investigations on the role of fats in the lower plants, J. Dubaqui6 (J/dm. 

 Soc. Set. Phys. ct Nat. Bordeaux, 6. set:, 5 (WIO), No. 1, pp. 5J-138, dginn. 2).— 

 This is a detailed account of investigations on the physiological role of fats in 

 molds and other plants, a preliminary account of which has been previously 

 noted (E. S. R., 20, p. 73.5). 



Studies of variation in plants, H. H. Love (New York Cornell Sta. Bui. 

 297, pp. 593-677, figs. 70). — The results are given of a study made to determine 

 the extent to which fluctuating variability is influenced by environmental fac- 

 tors and especially by food supply. The data presented are those secured in a 

 study of 2 generations of peas, 2 varieties of buckwheat, and 1 crop of corn. 



In general the means were found to increase as the fertility of the soil was in- 

 creased. The standard of deviation showed an increase in most cases as the 

 food supply was increased. The coefficients of variability were affected differ- 

 ently for different characters. In about one half of the characters studied the 

 coeflicient was increased, while in the other half it was decreased. Certain 

 characters of a species or variety were found much more variable than others. 

 The coefficients of correlation in general decreased as the food supply was 

 increased. 



The results obtained in this investigation led the author to think that there 

 is a greater degree of variation and a lesser degree of correlation among plants 

 grown on very rich soil. The data given ai*e not held to prove this conclusion, 

 but rather are offered as evidence in favor of it. 



A brief bibliography of this subject is appended. 



The Fi heredity of size, shape, and number in tomato leaves. — I, Seedlings. 

 II, Mature plants, B. H. A. Grotii (New Jersey Stas. Bills. 238, pp. 38, pis. 

 .9, figs. 8; 239, pp. 12, pis. 9). — In these bulletins descriptions are given of the 

 grosser characters which distinguish the foliage of a number of types of 

 tomatoes, and a report is made on the heredity of such characters in the first 

 generation. This is in continuation of a series of studies previously reported 

 (E. S. R., 23, p. 528). 



The author found that the leaves of tomato types differ in many characters 

 of size, shape, and number, in the cotyledons, first leaves, and large leaves. 

 Practically all characters studied tend to exceed the mean between the values 



