340 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOED. [Vol. 38 



reactions are expressed numerically, with definable significance ; that they are 

 duly referred in their origin to that stage of the plant's development at which 

 they were actually induced ; [and] that the crop is treated as an average plant 

 whose physiology is the subject of investigation. " 



Arborescent cotton plants, " de Motril " and " Caravonica," C. Riviere 

 {Bid. Soc. Nat. Acclirn. France, 63 (1916), No. 2, pp. Jt6-55 ; abs. in Internat. 

 Inst. Agr. \_Rome'\, Internat. Rev. Sci. and Pract. Agr., 7 (1916), No. 5, pp. 683, 

 68^). — On the basis of the history of the two arborescent cotton plants namei] 

 the author maintains that cotton is capable of infinite variation and is much 

 affected by environment and cultural methods. From this it follows that the 

 habit of growth, shape of leaves, and size of inflorescence, as well as the 

 length and character of the staple, are not fixed characters upon which eco- 

 nomic cultivation can be established, but that preliminary tests must be made 

 to determine the qualities of the plant. 



He regards de Motril as closely related to Gossypivm hadganum, described 

 by Todaro as coining from the Algiers Experimental Gardens and which, 

 according to the author, is a long-stapled Georgia much resembling Sea Island 

 from which CSravonica was derived. The latter had a strong tendency to de- 

 generate into common varieties. 



As experimental proof of his hypothesis, the author recalls that some neg- 

 lected plants of G. Jierhaceum found by him on the dunes of Biserta produced 

 in the Algiers Experimental Gardens individuals with luxuriant growth which 

 did not at all appear to have had a common origin. On the other hand, plants 

 raised from the seed of equally fine individuals, when grown under unfavor- 

 able soil and cultural conditions, produced offspring to which different origins 

 both as regards country and race would certainly have been attributed. 



Some notes on malang'as, R. S. Cunliffe (Agriculture [Cuha], 1 {1917), No. 

 S, pp. 21-29, figs. 5). — The production of Blanca and Amarilla malangas in 

 Cuba is described. The composition of these two varieties compared with that 

 of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cassava, as determined by analyses made at 

 the Maine Experiment Station, show that they compare favorably with the other 

 crops. The albuminoid ratio was found to be 1 : 16 for Blanca and 1 : 10 for 

 Amarilla malangas. 



Cultural tests with large and small seed tubers of Amarilla malangas gave 

 an increased yield of 1,920 kg. (approximately 4,224 lbs.) per acre for the 

 large seed. Tubers cut to sets of several eyes gave an increased yield of 1,600 

 kg. per acre over large, whole tubers and of 3,824 kg. over small, whole tubers. 



Spring' oat production, C. W. Wakbukton {U. S. Dept. Agr., Fanners' Bui. 

 892 {1917), pp. 22, figs. 9). — This is a revised edition of Farmers' Bulletin 424 

 (E. S. R., 24, p. 237). 



A study in the assimilation of nutrients by the rice plant, Jatindra Nath 

 Sen {Agr. Research Inst. Ptisa Bui. 65 {1916), pp. 13, pi. 1; abs. in Nature 

 [London'i, 99 {1917), No. 2476, p. ISl ; abs. in Internat. Inst. Agr. [i?o?ne], In- 

 ternat. Rev. Sci. and Pract. Agr., 8 {1917), No. S, pp. 359, 360).— Studies of the 

 assimilation of nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash in the rice plant in India 

 are reported. The life of the plant was divided into six stages ; namely, seed- 

 ling, transplanting, pre-flowering, flowering, milk, and dead ripe, and the per- 

 centage of total nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash contained in the root, 

 stem, leaf, ear, grain, and chaff determined and reported in tabular form, 

 together with the content of total nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash per 

 plant. The feeding value of the different parts of the rice plant at the various 

 stages of growth was also determined. From the data secured the following 

 general conclusions were drawn : 



