FIELD CROPS. 31 



chemism of photosynthesis ami that of chcniosyntlipsis arc thtM-eforc, con- 

 sidered identical. 



Report of the botanist, L. H. Pammel (Proc. 8oe. Amcr. Florists, 2'f (1908), 

 pp. 173-191). — The autljor Rives a summary of recent investigations relating 

 to plant Itreeding, some diseases of ])lants, investigations witli seeds, and the 

 toxic effect of certain salts on the growth of plants. 



Mutative reversions in cotton, O. F. Cook ( U. S. Dept. Agr., Bui: Plant 

 Indus. Virc. ,13, pp. IS). — Attention is called to the frequent reversions that 

 have been noticed in different varieties of cotton, particularly in the Egyptian 

 races, where the Hindi cotton is regarded as a true reversion. The author 

 claims that the phenomena of reversion are not confined to the changes of 

 single characters, but may result in wide departures from parental types and 

 bring different series of varietal characters into expression. The reappearance 

 of the ancestral characters does not depend upon recent hybridization, Init 

 may be shown in abrupt, mutative variations of pure-bred stocks that have 

 been selected for uniformity of a single set of characters. Reversions may be 

 due to new or unfavorable conditions of environment and vary in extent and 

 fretiuency with changes of external conditions. The uniformity of a given stoclc 

 in one place aft'ords no assurance that diversity will not appear in another 

 locality. 



Tlie Hindi variations of the Egyptian as well as some of the pronounced re- 

 versions in l^jiland cotton are described and discussed at considerable length. 



Parthenogenesis in Nicotiana, Rose H. Thomas (Mendel Jour., 1909, No. 1, 

 pp. 5-10). — In making a study of the fact that A', sandcrw, a supposed hybrid 

 between N. forgetiana and 2V. afflnis, always comes true to seed, the author 

 investigated a number of species and varieties of Nicotiana, including two 

 forms of N. tnbacum, and found that they may produce seed parthenogenet- 

 ically. In her experiments the anthers and stigmas were carefully removed 

 from all the tlowers, after which the clusters were bagged. The capsules 

 developed later and contained viable seeds. 



It seems from the experiments that parthenogenesis was found in 10 species, 

 varieties, and hybrids, and it is believed by the author that it will possibly be 

 found in all species if the right i)eri()d of observation is chosen. 



Notes on Odontites rubra and the influence of its parasitism on its form, 

 E. Heckel (Bill. Soc. Bot. France, 56 (1909), No. 7, pp. //WM~-^)-— Attention 

 is called to 0. rubra, a plant closely related to Euphrasia, which is a faculta- 

 tive parasite on the roots of grasses and other plants. When growing as a 

 semiparasite all parts of the plant are vigorous and of a deep reddish color, 

 but when it is not attached to other plants, as occasionally happens (about 

 5 per cent of the specimens, according to the author), the stems are weaker, 

 there is no trace of the red color, and the plants are a week or more later in 

 flowering. 



FIELD CROPS. 



Cereals in South. Africa, E. R. Sawer (Cedora Memoirs on ^oiifh African 

 Agriculture. Putcrmaritzburg: Govt., 1909, vol. 1, pp. S.'i3+XVIII, pis. .'J//. 

 figs. 9). — The opening chapter deals with meteorology, agricultural geology, 

 chenustry, and soil bacteriology with special reference to conditions in South 

 Africa (see p. 22). 



The climatic and other conditions of the region are discussed with reference 

 to corn growing. Descriptions of the types and varieties are followed by the 

 results of ?> seasons' tests of varieties. Imported varieties usually gave low 

 yields duriiig the first year of the test but in the last year Hickory King. Vir- 

 ginia White Dent No. 1, Early Mastodon, and Boone County White, with yields 



