836 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. 



results (E. S. R., 28, p. 838) the yield on plats sanded to a deptli of 1 in. was 

 much larger than that on those with no sand or on those sanded to only a depth 

 of 0.5 in. 



Cooperative tests with growers on the use of weed killers confirm the 

 previous results of the station. A 10 per cent iron sulphate solution thoroughly 

 applied with a good spray pump was very effective in killing wood moss. 



Report on the statistics of vineyards, orchards and gardens, and root 

 crops for the season 1913-14, L. H. Sholl (So. Aust. Statis. Dept. Bui. 3 

 (1914), pp. 6). — Statistics on the area, production, and value are given for the 

 year 1913-14, together with comparative data for the four previous seasons. 



Heredity of xenia among certain races of kidney beans, J. Daniel {Rev. 

 Hort. [Paris], 86 {191^), No. 11, pp. 258-257, pi. 1, figs. 7).— In the study here 

 reported crosses were made between the Spanish kidney bean and the black 

 Belgian kidney bean during a period of three years. 



The author's results show the existence of xenia in the seed resulting 

 from these crosses. In some cases the seed coat was black like the paternal 

 parent and in others there was a combination in various degrees of the colors 

 of both parents. The studies thus far made with the descendants from these 

 crosses indicate that xenia is transmitted to the progeny and that for the beans 

 used in the experiment at least Mendel's law of inheritance does not apply. 



The onion in Colorado, E. R. Bennett {Colwado Sta. Bui. 198 (1914), pp. 

 3-8). — A brief popular treatise on onion culture with special i-eference to con- 

 ditions in Colorado. 



Onion culture, J. W. Lloyd (Illinois Sta. Circ. 113 (.1914), pp. 3-16).— A 

 short practical treatise discussing growing ripe onions from, seed and sets, 

 types of onions, the transplanting method, growing onion sets, and green bunch 

 onions. 



The California fruits and how to grow them, E. J. Wickson (San Fran- 

 cisco, 1914, 7. ed., rev., pp. 513, pis. 24, figs. 77). — In the present edition of this 

 work (E. S. R., 27, p. 439) the subject matter has been brought up to date. 



Present state of fruit growing in Spain. — The principal fruit trees of 

 the Rosaceae, J. M. Priego (Inteniat. Inst. Agr. [i?o?ne], Mo. Bui. Agr. Intel, 

 and Plant Diseases, 5 (1914), No. 7, pp. 836-842). — A brief statistical review 

 of deciduous fruit culture in Spain. 



A study of variation in the apple, W. J. Young (Amer. Nat., 48 (1914), No. 

 574, pp. 595-634). — The author made a study of some 24 varieties of apples 

 obtained mostly from 14 localities in the State of Washington, although certain 

 varieties were obtained from one locality in New Hampshire, Indiana, Missouri, 

 New York, and West Virginia. In the present paper some brief comparative 

 notes regarding the more conspicuous variations in each variety are given and 

 the effect of environment upon various apple characters is discussed. 



In connection with the investigation the author advances a fundamental 

 principle upon which variation resulting from external factors depends. This 

 principle, the Law of the Optimum, states that for any given variety there is 

 for each character a certain intensity of each essential factor of the environ- 

 ment at which, other conditions remaining the same, that character reaches Its 

 highest development. In the application of this law to varietal adaptations the 

 essential point is that all environmental factors should be of such intensity as to 

 permit a good all-round development of the fruit. 



On the chemical composition of the buds of some fruit trees, A. Manaresi 

 and M. Tonegutti (Staz. Sper. Agr. Ital., 44 (1911), No. 11-12, pp. 960-964:; 

 47 (1914), No. 2, pp. 158-160). — In continuation of the work previously noted 

 (E. S. R., 26, p. 407), analyses are reported in the first paper of fruit and leaf 

 buds of the apple and pear, the buds being taken from the tree near the close of 



