360 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



sample L0.74. Samples of the straw from two of the farms were analyzed sepa- 

 rately in addition, to show that soil and climate had a greater influence on the com- 

 position of the straw than on the composition of the grain. 



Some investigations of transmission and variability in oats, with special 

 reference to the possibility of isolating types high in fat adapted to the 

 manufacture of shelled oats, A. V. Krarup (Copenhagen: Aug. Bang, 1903, 

 pp m ~o). — The variety of oats with which the author conducted his extensive investiga- 

 tions was Beseler. This variety was chosen on account of its relatively high content 

 of fat and nitrogen, clean kernels, ami thin hulls, (nudities desirable for the manu- 

 facture of shelled oats. The crops grown .luring 4 successive years (1899-1903) 

 were studied to determine correlation in characters and the fixedness of the charac- 

 ters in the strains grown. 



The oats used in the first year's work were found to contain different types of 

 greatly differing characters. Five isolated types were grown for 4 years, 2 of which 

 were high in fat, 2 medium high (1 with high kernel weight), and 1 low in fat. 

 Kernels taken from the outer and inner portions of the panicle were compared. 

 A correlation was found in the data for fat content and kernel weight, increasing 

 kernel weight being in general associated with decreasing fat content, and vice versa. 

 While there is no absolute uniformity in this relation, it is sufficiently regular to 

 furnish a reliable method for determining the relative fat content of different crops 

 of the same variety from the weights of outer grains. 



An increase in fat content and a decrease in kernel weight, as a rule, accompanied 

 an increase in the number of panicles, and a high kernel weight appeared to be asso- 

 ciated with a low nitrogen content and a high percentage of hulls. The quality of the 

 crop does not appear to be influenced by the different properties of plants grown 

 from outer and inner kernels of the same parent plant. In general, the selection of 

 varying individuals within the same strain or family did not influence to any appre- 

 ciable extent the qualitative properties of the offspring, showing that the types iso- 

 lated from the original seed oats in 1899 were quite fixed. 



A bibliography of 17 references is given at the close of the report. — f. w. woll. 



Transmission of characters in potatoes, C. vox Seelhokst and W. Freckmann 

 (Jour. Landir., 52 (1904), No. 1-2, pp. 151-162, dgms. 5). — Experiments have been 

 in progress for several years to demonstrate the possibility of increasing the yielding 

 capacity of varieties by selecting the seed tubers from large prolific plants. For this 

 purpose large and small tubers of 3 varieties selected from both large and small 

 plants were used for seed, and the results obtained are here tabulated and presented 

 graphically. The mother plants were classified with reference to size according to 

 their weight. The relation of the size of the mother plants to the specific gravity of 

 the progeny, and of the specific gravity of the one to the specific gravity of the other, 

 is also shown. 



The authors conclude that the experiments indicate that seed selected from strong 

 and prolific plants increases productiveness. The form of the mother plants also 

 seems to be a character capable of transmission, and it ; commended that in selec- 

 tion the form also be taken into consideration. 



Potato production ( Quart. Rpt. Kansas Slate , Agr., 23 (1904), No. 91, pp 

 205, figs. 9). — This publication is a compilation of articles on the culture a; 

 the potato and the sweet potato. The experience of Kansas pot 

 estimates of the cost of production per acre, are given by counties, 

 duction of potatoes in different counties for the years 1899 to 1903, i; e, is shown 



in a table. The culture of the sweet potato in Kansas is also discussed. 



New white potato, T. IIaynf.s (U. S. Dept. Com. and Labor, Mo. Consular Rpts., 

 1904, No. 286, pp. 78, 79). — A description is given of this plant, which is Solatium 

 coTrvmersonii, and its probable value is pointed out. An instance is cited where, in 



