1916] FIELD CROPS. 441 



Iiard seed, and seed grown in 1907 germinated 49.5 per cent with 5 per cent 

 of liard seed when four years old, and 29.5 per cent with 7 per cent of hard 

 seed when seven years old. In 1911 a test made with seed gi'own the pre- 

 ceding year gave a germination of 91 per cent with 4 per cent of hard seed. 



Inbreeding in maize, D. F. Jones {Abs. in Science, n. ser., 43 {1916), No. 

 1104, V- 290). — The author reports that 12 generations of continuous inbreed- 

 ing in maize confirmed previous conclusions. A reduction in vegetative vigor, 

 rapid at first but gradually slowing down and finally ceasing, was found cor- 

 relative with the theoretical approach to complete homozygosity. A marked 

 tendency was observed toward complete uniformity within the limits of physi- 

 ological fluctuation. The reduction in variability was accompanied by a segre- 

 gation of characters and an isolation of subvarieties differing in their power 

 for development as expressed by the size of the plant and the yield of the 

 grain. It is stated that after continued inbreeding there is an approach to 

 the stability of a naturally inbred race. The constantly segregating characters 

 in the original cros.sbred race are considered of little value in classification. 



A Persian and other forms of emmer, A. Schulz {Ber. Deut. Bot. Gesell., 

 33 {1915). No. 4, pp. 233-2A2, pi. 1). — Different forms of emmer are discussed 

 from a historical viewpoint and descriptions are given of some of their botani- 

 cal characters, especially those of the spike, spikelets, and grains. Among the 

 forms discussed and figured are Triticum dicoccum farrum, T. dicoccum rufum, 

 T. dicoccum var. haussknechtiunum, T. dicoccoides var. straussiana, T. dicoc- 

 coides var. kotschyana, T. dicoccum tricoccum, T. dicoccum serbicum album, 

 and T. dicoccum farrum albiimXT. dicoccum serbicum album. 



Lespedeza seed, Mayme Dwokak {La. Agr. Col., Ext. Div. Circ. 11 {1916), 

 pp. 11). — The results of purity and germination tests are reported, together 

 with the results of experiments with new and old seed and wiHi different 

 treatments to hasten germination. 



Three-year old lespedeza seed failed to germinate and two-year old seed 

 had a very low percentage of germination. Seed with a high percentage of 

 hard seeds in November, 1914, when tested in December, 1915, showed an 

 increase of 11 per cent of germination and a decrease of 34 per cent in the 

 number of hard seeds, but when tested in February, 1916, the germinative 

 value was practically the same as in November, 1914. Corresponding samples 

 of a high percentage of germination and a comparatively low hard seed 

 content in November, 1914, showed practically the same percentage of viable 

 seeds and the same hard seed content when tested in December, 1915, and 

 February, 19J6, as the samples mentioned above. Samples tested in Febru- 

 ary, 1915, had an average percentage of germination of 63.05 and an average 

 percentage of hard seed of 16.07, but when tested a year later they showed 

 an average percentage of germination of only 27.52 and an average per- 

 centage of hard seeds of 8.58. 



The treatment of lespedeza seed with sulphuric acid, ammonium hydroxid, 

 hydrochloric acid, and hot water, indicated that the use of hot water reduced 

 the germinative power very perceptibly. The application of sulphuric acid 

 so hastened germination that practically all of the viable seeds germinated 

 within three or four days. 



Investigation of the injurious effect of lime on the lupine and its pre- 

 vention, B. Creydt {Jour. Landw., 63 {1915), No. 2, pp. 125-191, pis. 6).— 

 Studies of this subject by different investigators are briefly reviewed, and 

 results are presented of experiments made to determine whether the lupine 

 is injuriously affected by basic nutritive solutions in general or in particular 

 by those containing lime, and if lime is the active agent whether application of 

 potash can reduce or remove the detrimental effect. Pot experiments were 



