836 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. [Vol.35 



A genetic study of plant height in Phaseolus vulgaris, R. A. Emebson 

 (Nebraska Sta. Research Bui. 7 {1916), pp. 8-73, figs. 16). — In this paper the 

 author analyzes the factors concerned in height of plants in beans and discusses 

 the mode of inheritance of these factors as determined by a study of the progeny 

 of crosses between pole and bush beans of varying heights. The methods em- 

 ployed in breeding, making records, etc., are described in detail and a biblio- 

 graphy of cited literature is given. 



The results of the investigations as a whole show that pole and bush beans 

 differ in a single character, habit of growth. Bush beans are determinate and 

 pole beans indeterminate in growth habit. The indeterminate habit of growth 

 is fully dominant to the determinate habit. Following the Mendelian ratio the 

 determinate habit is constant in F«, while some indeterminate Fj plants breed 

 true in Fs and others segregate again into pole and bush plants. In addition to 

 their indirect relation to habit of growth the two characters, number of inter- 

 nodes and internode length, are in a way distinct from habit of growth. There 

 are distinct types of both bush and pole beans in respect to both number of inter- 

 nodes and internode length. Crosses of bush beans of different internode 

 lengths, as well as crosses of pole beans of different internode lengths, result in 

 an intermediate condition in Fi and a wider range of variation in Fj with respect 

 to internode length. 



In a short pole bean and tall bush bean cross, tall pole beans are dominant in 

 Fi. Some of the pole bean segregates have fewer and shorter internodes than 

 the pole bean parent and some of the bush bean segregates have more and longer 

 internodes than the bush bean parent. Similar results follow when a tall pole 

 bean is crossed with a short bush bean. The dominance of indeterminate 

 over determinate habit of growth is interpreted just as are other simple Men- 

 delian results, namely, on the basis of a single dominant, genetic factor for 

 the difference between the parents in habit of growth. The intermediate height 

 in Fi and the wide range of variation in F2, from a cross between two bush 

 beans or between two pole beans of different heights, are interpreted in 

 accordance with the multiple-factor hypothesis. Segregation into three plants 

 with indeterminate habit to one of determinate habit, accompanied by an in- 

 creased range of variation in height of both classes of segi'egates when a short 

 pole bean is crossed with a tall bush bean or tall pole bean with a short bush 

 bean, is interpreted by a combination of the single-factor and the multiple- 

 factor hypotheses, or by what may be termed a modified multiple-factor hypo- 

 thesis, the modification consisting merely in the assumption of inequality in 

 dominance and inequality in potency between the factors. 



The author believes that this modified multiple-factor hypothesis affords a 

 more simple and direct interpretation of the results in these crosses than does 

 the hypothesis of a single unit-difference between all pole and bush beans, which 

 necessitates the further assumption that the unit-factor is modified commonly, 

 though irregularly, in crosses between pole and bush beans. 



The fruit industry in New York State, compiled by E. van Alstyne (N. T. 

 Dept. Agr. Bui. 79 {1916), pts. 1, pp. 627-981, pis. 2, figs. 124; 2, pp. 981-1432, 

 pis. 14, figs. 189). — This bulletin comprises as a whole a manual of information 

 relative to the fruit industry of New York State. The subject matter has been 

 prepared by various horticultural investigators, both within and without the 

 State, as well as by many practical fruit growers. Part 1 treats of the fruit 

 Industry of the State in all its phases, followed by detailed information relative 

 to the commercial production and handling of apples. Part 2 treats, in a man- 

 ner similar to apples, of pears, peaches, cherries, plums, prunes, quinces, grapes. 

 and small fruits. The bulletin concludes with an article on fruits in the home. 



