FIELD CROPS. 1065 



magnesium sulphate varying from _,'- to I of that required to make the magnesia 

 content of the soil equal to its lime content. The amount making the magnesia con- 

 tent of the soil of each pot 88.82 gm. as against 170 gin. of lime, i. e., making the 

 ratio approximately 2 of lime (CaO) to 1 of magnesia (MgO) gave the best results. 



Inspection of fertilizers in 1904, F. W. Moese | New Hampshire Sta. Bui. 11] , 

 pp. 9-16). — This bulletin gives the results of analyses of 119 brands of fertilizers 

 inspected in cooperation with the State board of agriculture. 



Commercial fertilizers, W. W. Miller and N. W. Lord {Offic. llpl. Sec. Ohio 

 State Bd. Agr. on Com. Ferts., 1904, pp. 88).— This is a report on fertilizers licensed, 

 inspected, and analyzed during the year 1904 under provisions of the Ohio State 

 fertilizer law. 



FIELD CROPS. 



The breeding of agricultural plants, C. Fruwirth i Die Ziichtung der landwirt- 

 schafilichen Kulturpflanzen. Berlin: Paul Parey, 1905, pp. XVIII 345, figs. 28) . — 

 This work, when completed, will comprise 4 volumes. The first edition of volume 1 

 has been previously noted (E. S. R., 13, p. 243). The book here noted is the second 

 and revised edition of volume 1. 



The subject-matter as rearranged divides the volume into 2 parts, one treating of 

 the theoretical basis of plant breeding and the other of the practical application of 

 the theories put forth. In part 1 the author discusses sexual and asexual reproduc- 

 tion, transmission of characters, variation, and selection, and in part 2 he includes 

 methods of selection and crossing, the use of asexual reproduction in connection with 

 this work, and the management of plant-breeding establishments in general. 



A brief historical review of the work in breeding agricultural plants concludes the 

 volume. A bibliography of 59 works and articles and 31 periodicals frequently cited 

 in the book is given. 



The effect of dessication on the dimensions and volume of plant organs 

 and tissues, M. Berthelot (Compt. Hem!. Acad. Sci. [Paris], 139 (1904), No. SI, 

 pp. 825 834). — Experiments were made with Festuca pratensis, wheat, maize, Gyne- 

 rhim argenteum, and paper. The samples were air dried and then subjected to a 

 temperature of 110° C. 



The length of the stems of Festuca was but slightly influenced by drying, hut the 

 change in the diameter was more marked, amounting to from 25 to 33 per cent when 

 dried at 1 10°. The variations in the diameter of the stems were small as compared 

 with the quantity of water driven off. After drying at 110° C. the diameter changed 

 but slightly when the plant was exposed to the humidity of the air. The circular 

 form of the stem was retained in all degrees of dryness. When the stems were soaked 

 in pure alcohol a perceptible contraction resulted which, however, was smaller than 

 the contraction caused by drying at the higher temperature. Washing the treated 

 stems in distilled water brought them back to their original dimensions. 



Wheat straw was changed but little in length by drying, but a temperature of 110° C. 

 much reduced the diameter. When exposed to the air at ordinary temperature it 

 resumed its original size. Air drying reduced the diameter -of maize stems about as 

 much as drying at 110°, while as in the other cases, the length was but little affected. 

 In this case the steins were not restored to their original form upon exposition to the 

 air under ordinary conditions. The stems of Gynerium argenteum behaved similar 

 to those oi Festuca. The leaves of this plant were reduced from one-fifth to one- 

 third in thickness by drying, and the effect was permanent. 



Changes in the dimensions and thickness of the different samples of paper sub- 

 jected to drying were very small. The vascular system in the stems is considered as 

 retaining its form and length when the plant substance undergoes drying, and to 

 this phenomenon the small changes in the length of the stems are ascribed. 



30858— No. 11—05 3 



