G5(> EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



the sum of tlu' 1)1<mh1 of the characters desired shall l)e greater than the blood of any 

 other strain in the graft. Thus, if with a sexual hybrid possessing | blood A, i blood 

 B, and | blood C, a character K of the A blood, which is in the minority, is desired, 

 it is likely to be obtained by grafting it on another sexual hybrid having, for exam- 

 ple, 2 1>lood A, g blood B, and | blood C. The total blood then whicli will unite to 

 form the new hybrid will be made up of the sum of these or | A l)lood, | B Ijlood, 

 and 2 C blood, in wliich it is seen that the A blood predominates and the character 

 K is likely to appear. Modifications in vines as regards eradication of the foxy flavor, 

 increase in size of berry, resistance to exterior agents, etc., can thus l)e ol)tained. 



The author states that the problem of the grape industry in France is to unite the 

 resistance of American roots to the quality of French grapes. This will probably 

 l)e done not by sexual hybridization alone but by sexual hybridization combined 

 rationally witli asexual hybridization by the graft and the preservation of the vari- 

 ation thus obtained by budding. 



Curious results obtained in grafting, L. Daniel ( Comjjt. licnd. Acad. Sci. Parif^, 

 135 (1902), No. 12, pp. 4S1, 4S2; ahs. in Rev. Hart. [Paris-], 74 [1903), No. 20, pp. 470, 

 471). — An account is given of some recent work in grafting Scopolia carmofica on 

 tomatoes. *S'. carnioKca is a perennial herbaceous plant, and one of the flrst to appear 

 in spring. After fructification its aerial stems remain green for a short time, then 

 gradually wither, and finally entirely dry up during the month of ]\Iay. Scions of 

 S. carnioHca were taken after fruiting, and when the stems had begun to wither, and 

 grafted on growing tomatoes. The graft succeeded, producing new buds and leaves, 

 and one branch gave 3 normal flowers. The success of this graft led to the conclu- 

 sion that similarity of habit of stock and scion is not an absolute condition of success 

 in grafting. 



Specific variations in the graft, G. T. GRiciNAN [liev. Tlort. [P«r/,«], 74 (1902), 

 No. 17, pp. 414-41'j)- — This is an abstract of L. Daniel's work n ted above. 



Specific variations caused by grafting (Gard. Chron., 3. scr., 32 (1902), No. 832, 

 pp. 409, 410). — Review of the work of Daniel and Lindemuth along this line. 



Electroculture. Increase in the yield of cultivated crops obtained by elec- 

 trical treatment, 8. Lemstiujm ( El eJdrok altar. Erluihang der Erntc-Ertrage aller 

 Kidtur-Pflanzen durch elektrische Behandlung. Berlin: R. FriedUmder cO Son, 1902, 

 pj). JT'H- 43,.f'gi^- 4)- — An abstract of a part of this work has been previously made 

 from current periodicals (E. 8. R., 14, p. 352). The pamphlet contains much detailed 

 data in addition to that already noted, including a general description of the electrical 

 machine used. In laboratory experiments it was found that if a capillary tube is 

 placed in a vessel of water which is in electrical connection with the earth, and a 

 fine metal point connected with the negative jiole of an electrical machine be sus- 

 pended over the upper end of the tube, small drops of water soon collect in the upi^er 

 part of the tube after the machine has been set in motion. This result is lielieved to 

 throw light on the increased growth of plants subject to electrical currents. Thus 

 when a metal net (connected with the negative pole of an electrical machine is sus- 

 pended above growing plants a more energetic rise of sap containing plant food takes 

 place in tlie plant and growth is therefore more rapid. 



The author's experiments on the whole, with both field and garden crops, show an 

 average increase in growth of 45 per cent due to the use of electric currents. The 

 electrical treatment was most influential in well-tilled fields. On poor soils no note- 

 worthy results were attained. Some plants must be well watered in order to obtain 

 the maximum effect of the electricity. Peas, carrots, and cabbage belong to this 

 class. Electro-culture combined with strong sunlight proved harmful for most plants. 

 It is therefore considered advisable that during the hot, sunny portions of the day 

 the electrical current be stopped. 



Growing vegetables under cloth (Amer. Agr., 70 (1902), No. 22, pp.. 595, 

 596). — The success obtained in the culture of tobacco under shade in Connecticut 

 and Florida has led various experimenters to try the growing of vegetables under 



