FIELD CROPS. 531 



character is deternuned by other internal factors which are esseatially inde- 

 pendent of the physiological characters hardiness and earliness, as shown in 

 comparisons of different varieties and lines as well as in hybrid segregations. 

 It is deemed possible to combine to a greater or lesser degree the germination 

 resistance with hardiness and earliness. 



The relative diffex'ences in the germinating conditions of wheat varieties are 

 qualified by several internal inherited factors. Among these inherited factors 

 the red factor, which produces the red color of the seed coat, plays a greater 

 part than the inhibiting factor during the early stage after maturity. The 

 white varieties, which do not contain the red factor, germinate easiest, the 

 single red factor variety next, and the many-factored retl variety the slowest. 

 The specific germinative conditions of different varieties will be only partly 

 influenced by the red factors, other internal factors also operating. At the same 

 time the seed maturity and the specific seed maturation period of different 

 varieties are essentially independent of the red factor and of other internal 

 factors; the red factors work, however, as the inhibiting factors in the same 

 direction as does faulty seed maturity. 



The determined facts elucidate, from a new viewpoint, the important germi- 

 native physiological role which the seed coat plays, especially the cork layer in 

 which the influence of the re<l factors is localized. The white- and single-factor 

 red variety investigated showed somewhat more rapid absorption of water than 

 did the multi-factored red variety. The germination inhibiting effect of the 

 red factors is traceable, in part at least, to the fact that these factors not only 

 influence the color, but also the structure of the seed coat. 



The clairii that the true seed coat of the ripe wheat kernel consists of only 

 two cell layers, to the inner of which the integument belongs, is held to 

 be in error. The author states that the seed coat always consists of two 

 completely free skins, insoluble in concentrated sulphuric acid. Each of 

 these in the red variety consists of two cell layers, and in the white variety the 

 inner one in mature kernels is entirely structureless. 



A bibliography of 32 titles is attached. 



A case of repulsion in wheat, F. L. Englebow (Proc. Camhridge Phil. Soc, 

 It (1914), No. 5, pp. 433-435). — Results are here given of a cross between 

 Smooth Black and Rough Chaff wheat. The 213 plants of F2 generation segre- 

 gated rough black 120. rough white 43. smooth black 47. and smooth white 3, 

 which corresponded closely with the theoretical expectation of 109.8 : 49.9 : 

 49.9 : 3.3. The application of methotls of determining the best coupling and 

 repulsion series for these observations are discussed. 



Studies on the stems of wheat, L. Blaringhem and E. Mii;GE (Compt. Rend. 

 Acad. Sci. [Paris], 157 {1913), No. 25, pp. 14511-1460) .—This notes some results 

 in crossing pure lines of Triticum vulgare, T. dicocciim, and T. turgidum 

 which, the author states, indicate the mosaic in the anatomical characters. 



On the production of hybrids between wild and cultivated wheats, Blar- 

 inghem (Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 158 {1914), No. 5, pp. 346-349, fig. 

 1). — The author notes in the results of this cross the dominance of flinty albu- 

 min and triangular shape to amylaceous albumin and rounded shape and 

 wrinkled. 



Increase of the productivity of Hungarian wheat by means of selection, 

 E, Grabner {Koztelek [Budapest], 23 {1913), No. 99, pp. 3331-3333; al)s. in 

 Internat. Inst. Agr. [Rome], Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, and Plant Diseases, 5 {1914), 

 No. 3, p. 352). — This notes the improvement of some Hungarian wheats by 

 selection to increase the number of kernels per spikelet. 



Characters of the grain in varieties of Hungarian pedigree wheat and 

 their hereditary transmission, E. Obekmayer {Koztelek [Budapest], 23 {1913), 



