530 EXPEEIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.36 



improvement of native flint varieties. A detailed report is given of ear-to-row 

 experiments. Considerable work has been done in developing strains by means 

 of self-pollination, emploj'ing the method of Collins and Kempton, previously 

 describetl (E. S. R., 26, p. 535). 



Sea Island cotton, W. A. Oeton (U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 787 {1916), 

 pp. J,0, figs. 13).— A revision of Farmers' Bulletin 302 (E. S. R., 19, p. 332). 



West Indian Cotton Conference, 1916 (West Indian Bid., 15 (1915), No. 4, 

 pp. 235-329, pi. 1, figs. 2). — A report of this conference is given. 



Flax seed for 1916 sowing (Dept. Agr. and Tech. Instr. Irelaiid Jour., 16 

 (1916), No. 2, pp. 312-315) .—Owing to a scarcity of seed a number of importa- 

 tions of flax have been made from the United States, Canada, Russia, France, 

 Holland, Argentina, Japan, Siberia, and Yorkshire and the results of the tests 

 reported. The imported varieties recommended for use were from Holland, 

 Russia, Yorkshire, Canada, and France. 



Concerning the oat crop, J. L. Hills (Vermont Sta. Bui. 197 (1916), pp. 

 46-72). — Tills article is a compilation of general information relating to the 

 production of oats as a Vermont roughage. 



Observations on some degenerate strains of potatoes, F. C. Stewart (New 

 York State Sta. Bui. 422 (1910), pp. 319-357, pis. 12).— A number of potato 

 plants from seed gi-own at Honeoye Falls, N. Y., by the U. S. Department of Ag- 

 riculture, showed signs of abnormality early in the summer, the trouble being 

 diagnosed as curly dwarf. This bulletin deals with the behavior of those plants 

 and their progeny in 1915, together with some observations on other degenerate 

 strains of potatoes. The object of the study was to add to the knowledge of the 

 forms of degeneration known as leaf roll, curly dwarf, mosaic, and spindling 

 sprout and their relation to the selection of seed potatoes. The bulk of the ob- 

 servations were made on Green IMountain, Jr., with additional notes on the fol- 

 lowing varieties : State of Maine, Carman No. 2, Long Island Wonder, Knoxal, 

 Rural New Yorker No. 2, Late Victor, Ionia, Pride of Vermont, Green Mountain, 

 and an unknown variety. Careful notes were made of the parent stock and great 

 care exercised in regard to the performance of the progeny. 



The striking feature of the observations was the frequency with which the 

 progeny of plants with apparently normal foliage and high yield suddenly de- 

 generate into worthless dwarfs affected with various forms of degeneration. 

 The conclusion is reached that these degenerations (leaf roll, curly dwarf, and 

 mosaic) are closely related disorders, due to the same general, undetermined 

 cause, all transmitted through the seed tubers, the progeny of affected plants 

 almost always becoming affected. Spindling sprout is not correlated with leaf 

 roll, mosaic, or curly dwarf, and its heredity is still undetermined. Evidence is 

 lacking to show that any one of the four forms of degeneration named is com- 

 municable from one plant to another except through the seed tubers. They were 

 not due to parasitic organisms nor to unfavorable soil or weather conditions of 

 the current season. 



Plants from different tubers of the same plant were found generally similar, 

 and plants from different eyes of the same tuber usually resembled each other 

 closely, although exceptions to both cases were frequently noted. Various com- 

 binations of normal, mosaic, leaf-roll, and curly-dwarf plants were obtained 

 from the several tubers of the same plant, and even from the several eyes of the 

 same tuber. 



The observations recorded led to the following general conclusions having a 

 practical bearing on seed-potato selection : Normal foliage and high yield is not 

 a guaranty of production in the progeny of the following season, as degeneration 

 may occur quite suddenly. It is unsafe to select seed potatoes from a field con- 



