FIELD CROPS. 837 



more than moderately rough eaiS, and heavy ears showed an average advantage 

 of 3.9 bu. 



Mendelian inheritance in cotton hybrids, C. A. McLendon (Georgia Sta. 

 Bill. 9!), pp. 139-228, figs. 27). — This bulletin is a I'eport of progress on experi- 

 ments in cotton breeding conducted for 3 years and including only the second 

 generation of the first crosses made. 



The varieties and tyi^es entering into this work were Willet Redleaf, Cook 

 Bigboll, Hastings Bigboll, Pride of Georgia, Toole, Sistrunk, Russell Bigboll, 

 Cleveland Bigboll, Ratteree Favorite, Blue Ribbon, and Sea Island. From a 

 trial plat planted with commercial seed of the different varieties the parent 

 stock was selected on the basis of superiority and general appearance. Several 

 series of crosses were made in each instance and when the progeny of the parent 

 plants and the Fi generation of the crosses were grown, all of the series except 

 those from parenis showing their purity were eliminated. Six series of crosses 

 were made the first year and 3 additional series the second between varieties of 

 tested purity. The methods employed are described in detail, particular at- 

 tention being given to crossing and selfiug. The inheritance of characters is 

 discussed and tables are given showing the dominant and recessive characters, 

 together with the ratio of segregation. A list of 37 allelomorphic pairs of unit 

 characters in the cotton plant is presented and a bibliography of 28 references 

 on Mendelian inheritance and natural crossing in cotton is appended. 



The results of 2 exiieriments conducted ou a limited scale showed that nat- 

 ural crossing occurs, but that most if not all insects causing it may be excluded 

 from the plants by means of netting. 



It is concluded from the results secured that the heritable characters in the 

 crosses studied seem to obey Mendel's laWs of dominance, segregation, and 

 recombination. Dominance w;is found incomplete for several charactei's which 

 rendered the heterozygote intermediate and gave a greater range of visible 

 variation in crosses having two or more characters correlated. Segregation 

 into the 1:2:1, 3:1, 9:3:8:1, and 15 : 1 ratios was indicated in these experi- 

 ments, but the exact theoretical proportions occurred in only a few instances, 

 this being considered due either to the small number of individuals or the 

 heterozygous condition of the parent stock. Intensification of the characters in 

 crosses between Sea Island and Upland varieties was very common in the Fi 

 generation, but in the succeeding generations it gradually diminished. Fluctua- 

 tion was infrequent in pure strains but very common in lint characters, even 

 in apparently homozygous individuals. Variations of economic importance 

 were of frequent occurrence, but they were usually if not always the result of 

 crossing. 



Fertilizer tests of oats, F. Gaul (IIlus. Landw. Zfg., 32 (1912), No. 10, pp. 

 75, 76). — Tables report the results of a number of years' tests of ammonium 

 sulphate, nitrate of soda, nitrate of lime. Thomas meal, and kainit singly or in 

 various mixtures as fertilizers for oats in Thuringia. 



From the data presented the author concludes that on light dry soil, am- 

 monium sulphate harrowed in at the time of planting proved the best nitrogen 

 fertilizer for oats. Thomas meal and kainit gave no profits when applied to 

 oats after winter grain, but may be used when oats are a nurse crop for clover. 

 Kainit and a 40 i>er cent potash salt may be used on a heavy soil that tends to 

 the formation of a crust. 



The influence of different amounts of water on the yield and quality of 

 sug'ar beets, A. Heeke (Osterr. TJngar. Ztschr. Zuckerindiis. u. Landic, J^l 

 (1912), No. 1, pp. 1-7). — Analyses of beets grown in concrete and other pots, to 

 which water was applied at 3 different rates each year, are reported in tabular 

 form. Parallel series of experiments were conducted on 3 different soils. 



