FIELD CROPS. 231 



Experiments on the germination of new harvested seed, C. Eberiiart 

 (Fiihliitf/'n Land a: /Ag., 55 (WOG), No. J7, pp. oSS-oUt). — S.-iiiiplos of rye and 

 wheat of different degrees of maturity were gorniinatod liy diffei'oiit niothods, 

 and the author conclutlos that .^onnination in sand oi- Ih'Iwccm hiottiiiir pniicrs 

 is to he preferred to otlier methods. 



Forciuj? tlie point of a ]iin into tlie smaller end of eaeh Ki'ain had the effect 

 of increasing the percent a, w of sernnnation. Soaking the seed in water also 

 increased the number of kernels which germinated. T.otli these treatments 

 were unable to increase the i)ercentage of germination ami the rapidity of 

 growth in wheat slightly immature. Treating the seed with ether liad a favor- 

 able effect on its gernnnation. 



In general it was found that the germination of new harvested seed is gov- 

 erned by its degree of maturity. A sample of dead ripe rye showed a germina- 

 tion inunediately upon harvesting, which the same grain, harvested in the milk 

 stage, did not show until it had been stored for 40 days. 



The effect of inbreeding- in plants, A. D. Shamel (C .S'. Dept. Ayr. Year- 

 hook J905, pp. 377-392, pis. 3, fig. 1, dgm. 1). — This article defines the term in- 

 breeding and discusses the use of inbreeding in the improvement of animals, 

 the different degrees of inbreeding in plants, and its effect on their vegetative 

 vigor and fertility. 



The beneficial effects of inbreeding in tobacco and the detrimental effects of 

 inbreeding in corn are discussed. It is stated that inbreeding in tobacco is an 

 effective means of maintaining desirable characteristics in the established va- 

 rieties, while cross-fertilization within the varieties reduces uniformity and de- 

 creases vigoi". A method of corn breeding to avoid inbreeding is described and 

 illustrated. The author inclines to the belief "that the improvement of our 

 crops can be most rapidly etTected with permanently beneficial results by fol- 

 lowing the practice of inbreeding, or crossing, to the degree in which these 

 metliods of fertilization are found to exist naturally in the kind of plant under 

 consideration." 



The breeding of cereals by means of artificial crossing, E. Tschermak 

 (Ztschr. Lamhr. Vcrsuchsir. Ostcrr.. 9 {1906), No. 6, pp. 699-7-'i3, pis. 2).— The 

 author's work and its results are described at some length. The following 

 crosses are enumer.ited as obtained in addition to those of wheat and rye; 

 i^ecalc cereale x 'S'. nionianuui, Acgilops ovata X »Sf. monUinum. A. ovata X S. 

 ccreale, Hordeinn distich urn X H. spontancum. H. tefrastirhum X H. .nponta- 

 vrinn. H. irifiircatuHi x H. spontancum, A. ovata X Triticnm luilgarc. and Hor- 

 deutn sp.. with Elginiis cnropaetts. 



In crossing rxc. xenia, with reference to color of seed, was observed in sev- 

 eral cases. An increasing tendency to vary in the two crost forms seemed to 

 favor the ai^pearance of xenia in the crosses secured, contrary to th(> opinion 

 of certain investigators. When species of rye with different tyi)es of heads 

 were crossed, the female parent was neither alone nor most prominent in ex- 

 erting its influence on the product and its progeny. Natural crosses resulted 

 where different species of rye were grown in alternate rows. In about one-half 

 of the plants of the first generation of rye crosses the type of head and form of 

 seed of the male parent was prevalent, while in the other half the same char- 

 acters of the female ])arent predominated. In the second generation the indi- 

 viduals split up into groups, showing the type of head of either the one jiarent 

 or the other, or of both together. One-ftmrth of the number of individuals 

 showed the spike characters of the female parent, one-fourth those of the male 

 parent, and one-half wci-c intermediate. 



Crosses of winter and spi-ing varieties of rye. when grown as sjjring varieties, 

 show a medium period of growth, and spring rye as the prevailing type in the 



