1017] ' FIELD CROPS. 739 



A large number of intermediate forms appeared in the Fs generation in ad- 

 dition to the two parental hulled types, four definite groups being distinguished. 

 These intermediates contained all gradations from plants with perfectly hulled 

 grain to the perfectly naked forms. The inheritance of the hulled characters 

 presented a simple Mendelian ratio, giving 1 hulled, 2 intermediate, 1 naked. 

 In grain color also there were three black plants to one white. It is shown 

 that the genes for these two characters segregate independently of each other. 



Multiflorous spikelets occurred only in connection with naked grain, plants 

 with completely hulled grain bearing only biflorous spikelets. 



The inheritance of pubescence at the base of the lower grain presented some 

 difficulties, since it could not be manifested on plants with naked grain. By 

 the use of a selected group of plants having hulled and intermediate grain, 

 however, it was found that pubescence behaves as a bifactorial character, giving 

 15 pubescent plants to 1 without pubescence. Neither of these genes were 

 linked with those for color. Available evidence indicates that one of these 

 pubescent genes may come from the naked parent. Long and short pubescence 

 at the base of the grain behaved as a monohybrid character and segregated in- 

 dependently of the other genes considered. 



A remarkable feature of this cross was observed in the presence of pubescence 

 at the base of the upper or second grain, no cultivated varieties of oats pos- 

 sessing this character. In this cross these forms occurred only on spikelets 

 where the lower grain was naked or seminaked, and it is deemed probable that 

 the presence of this pubescence was due to physiological disturbances caused 

 by the presence of the naked lower grain. 



The presence of awns was also affected by the nature of the glumes, a naked 

 grain bearing only thin, weak awns. Considering only the hulled and inter- 

 mediate types of grain, there appeared to be a simple 3 : 1 ratio between plants 

 with medium strong to strong awns and those with w-eak aw^ns. 



[Potato culture], P. Webeb and Kleberger {Jour. Landw., 64 {1916), No. S, 

 pp. 181-199). — The authors report experiments conducted on sandy, loamy, and 

 clayey soils to test the effect of complete mineral fertilization, with especial 

 reference to the nitrogen carrier, on the yield of potatoes and starch for each 

 soil type. The nitrogenous fertilizers consisted of ammonium sulphate, cal- 

 cium nitrate, ammonium nitrate, and liquid manure. The treatment of the 

 plats was identical, and consisted of 352 lbs. of Thomas slag, 176 lbs. of 40 per 

 cent potash salt, and either 176 lbs. of ammonium sulphate, 176 lbs. of calcium 

 nitrate, 88 lbs. of ammonium nitrate, or 1,280 liters of liquid manure per acre. 

 The soil type for each series of plats is described and the fertilizer treatment 

 for each plat, together with the results obtained, are given in tabular form. 



The results of the experiaients indicate that nitrogen fertilization affects the 

 yield of potatoes on the better loam and clay soils, while upon the sandy soils 

 the potash and phosphorus fertilizers appeared to have the most pronounced 

 effects. Satisfactory yields were not obtained on the heavier soils, however, 

 with nitrogen alona Of the nitrogen carriers tested, ammonium sulphate gave 

 the best results on all soil types, although liquid manure gave very good results 

 and is to be especially recommended at the present time. 



The highest starch yields were obtained from the use of potash and phosphorus 

 alone, liquid manure producing a slight and the remaining nitrogenous mate- 

 rials a decided reduction in the starch content. 



The utilization of the nitrogen in the fertilizers did not always parallel the 



yields obtained. This was noticeable In the case of ammonium sulphate on 



clay soil, where only 90 per cent of the nitrogen was used, indicating that the 



nitrogen from the ammonium nitrate must have been used for the formation of 



24656°— 18— No. 8 4 



