230 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.35 



counties, Minnesota 13, U. S. Selection 133, 90-Day Clarage, Murdock Yellow 

 Dent, Wisconsin No. 7, and Holmes White-Capped Yellow Dent, varieties grown 

 for grain, and 100-Day Bristol and Reid Yellow Dent, varieties suited for 

 silage, are recommended for trial. 



In the selection and care of seed only ears showing perfect germination were 

 planted, and yields were secured from perfect stands. Seed selected on the 

 stalk germinated better than seed selected at husking time in an indoor test 

 in the single year for which the record was kept, but the seed selected at 

 husking time in the three years' trials gave the better field germination, and 

 there was not much difference in the yields. Heavy seed gave a little better 

 field germination and a somewhat better yield than light seed. While seed 

 from ears germinating quickly gave the better field germination, the difference in 

 yield was within the limits of error. Keeping the seed at living room temperature 

 during the winter resulted in better germination indoors and in the field than 

 was obtained with seed kept without artificial heat, but the difference in yield 

 was insignificant. 



Ear-to-row breeding of one variety followed by crossing of remnants of the 

 best yielding ears, as shown by yields of seed from the best ear rows and from 

 crosses of the best ears, did not materially increase the yield. Inbreeding very 

 much reduced the size of stalks and yield, while crossing of inbred strains not 

 closely related restored the vigor and productive capacity. Of eight first-genera- 

 tion crosses only two outyielded the better parent, the difference in yield being 

 but little. 



The developm^ent and properties of raw cotton, W. L. Balls (London: A. d 

 C. Black, Ltd., 1915, pp. XII +221, pis. 16, figs. 22).— The main purpose of this 

 book, it is stated, is to present the history of the development of cotton-lint 

 and, accessory to this purpose, to indicate the development of the plant on 

 which this lint is borne. The chapters presented discuss the development of 

 pedigree, the growth of the cotton plant and the factors which affect it, the 

 structural development of the boll and how this may be influenced by environ- 

 ment, the production and preparation of commercial lint, the growth of cotton 

 culture, and the methods employed in studying and improving the crop. Tables 

 of statistical data are appended. 



Note on the classification of the rices of Lower Burma, R. A. Beale (Re- 

 printed from Poona Agr. Col. Mag., 7 (1915), No. 2, pp. iO).— Schemes of classi- 

 fication proposed by Kikkawa and Graham among others are briefly discussed, 

 and the botanical characters of rice important in the classification of varieties 

 are enumerated and described. Agricultural characters in themselves are con- 

 sidered an inadequate basis for classification, as they are affected by environ- 

 ment but are regarded of value in this connection only when used in conjunction 

 with botanical characters. A tentative scheme for the classification of the rices 

 of Lower Burma is proposed. 



The culture of rice in Spain, H. Jumelle (Inst. Colon. Marseille Bui. 1 

 (1914), pp. 28, fig. i).— This bulletin is a popular discussion of the ordinary field 

 practice in the culture of rice as applied in the Province of Valencia in 

 Spain. Statistics of production and marketing are also given. 



Annual report of the Bureau of Sugar Experiment Stations, E. G. E. 



ScBiVEN (Ann. Itpt. Bur. ^ngar Expt. Stas. [Queensland'i, 1915, pp. 52). This 



report reviews the progress of the cane-sugar industry of Queensland and 

 the production of cane and sugar in 1915. The experimental work carried on 

 at the Central Sugar Experiment Station at Mackay, the Southern Sugar Ex- 

 periment Station at Bundaberg, and in other parts of the State, is briefly 

 noted. 



