FIELD CROPS, 529 



cross was similar and intermediate between the parents, while the F2 genera- 

 tion was composed of individuals of every degree of characteristics between 

 the original parents. 



On the physiology of germination of Oryza sativa, M. Ak^mine (Fiihling's 

 Landw. Ztg., 63 (1914), No. S, pp. 78-93). — From the I'esults of experiments con- 

 ducted at Sapporo, Japan, since 1909, the author announces the following con- 

 clusions in regard to the germination of rice : 



The maximum, optimum, and minimum germinating temperatures are 40°, 

 30 to 35°, and 10 to 13° C, respectively. Light had no influence, light rays of 

 different refrangibility having the same value. Rice seed germinated as well 

 in water as in air, whether hulled or unhulled, or whether or not the water 

 had the oxygen expelled by boiling. The plumule, radicle, and crown roots 

 appeared quicker when the seed was germinated in air than when germinated 

 in water. The elongation of the plumule proceeded more rapidly in water than 

 in air, while the reverse was true for the radicle and crown roots. Frequently 

 changing the water and the depth of water over the seeds within the limits 

 of 3 to 20 cm. had no influence upon hastening the germination of the seeds. 

 The most favorable degree of moisture for the seed ranged from 60 to 95 per 

 cent of the water-holding power of the germinating medium. Rice kernels 

 absorb 25 to 30 per cent of their air-dry weight of water, but may be brought 

 to germination after they have taken up 25 i>er cent of their air-dry weight. 

 The loss in weight of the unhulled seed during the swelling period of 20 days, 

 with the temperature ranging from 10 to 15°, was 1.5 per cent of their weight. 



New varieties of rice from Japan, P. Poli (Oior. Risicolt., 4 (1914), Nos. 6, 

 pp. 82-87, figs. 8; 7, pp. 100-102, figs. 4)- — These articles describe six varieties 

 of rice imported into Italy in 1913. 



Rice cultivation and milling in Burma, M. K. Moorhead (Daily Cons, and 

 Trade Rpts. [U. S.], 17 {1914), No. 109, pp. 768-774). —Industrial conditions and 

 methods of cultivation, including implements used and values of rice in several 

 Provinces of Burma, are described. 



Nitrogenous fertilizer for rye, V. Rygula (Ztschr. Landw. Kammrr Schle- 

 sien, 18 (1914), No. 15, pp. 686-688, figs. 2). — This gives results of experiments 

 which indicate that rye following oats requires a nitrogenoiis fertilizer, that 

 part may be applied in the fall in the form of sulphate of ammonia, and that 

 the spring application may either be nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia. 



Tubers of Solanum commersonii, L. Wittmack (Jahresber. Ver. Angew. 

 Bot., 11 {1918), pt. 1, p. 119). — This notes a tuber about 5 by 6 em. produced on 

 a plant of 8. commersonii, and also an aerial tuber on the ordinary potato plant. 



Analyses of soy beans from Tonkin {Agron. Colon., 1 {1913), No. 9, p. 87). — 

 Analyses of two new white varieties of soy beans show a range in fat content 

 from 16.4 to 18.42 per cent and in protein from 38.1 to 42.5 per cent. 



Variability in chemical composition of the offspring of a single mother 

 beet in the first generation, K. Andrlik and J. Urban (Ztschr. Zuckerindus. 

 Bohmen, 38 (1914), No. 7-8, pp. 339-355, figs. 7).— This reports results of 

 analyses of about 100 representative individual plants taken from a plat that 

 had been planted to seeds of a single mother beet in order to determine the 

 ranges of variability in the composition of individuals of a single generation. 



The range of sugar content was from 15 to 18.55 per cent. The ranges of 

 variability of the different determinations, in terms of the average content, are 

 given as follows : Of dry matter in the roots 33.4 per cent, dry matter in the 

 tops 71.9, ash in the roots 64.7, ash in the tops 81.8, nitrogen in the roots 88.2. 

 nitrogen in the tops 67.1, green weight of the roots 193, green weight of the tops 

 189 per cent, and sugar content 28.o per cent. 



