636 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The results of crossing 2 medium hardy varieties produced lines that exceeded 

 the parents in both directions in degree of winter resistant character — that is, 

 some being unaffected by the winter weather and others being entirely killed 

 under the same conditions. The author concludes that the winter resistant 

 character is transmitted similarly to other characters, that crossing results in 

 segregation of gradations of this character, whether the parents are of widely 

 different or of medium winter resistaut varieties, and that it seems to be the 

 result of a variety of combinations of many ^Nlendelian factors. 



The spontaneous appearance of a wheat hybrid, B. Kajanus {Ztschr. 

 PfianzenzucM., 1 (1912), No. 1, pp. 13-24). — This pai^er discusses the study of 

 wheat characters based upon the appearance in 1908 of a wheat plant of the 

 awnless type in a plat of pedigreed Triticum turgidum, which is a heavily awned 

 type. .Seeds of this plant were planted in successive years, and the results of 

 the segregation of some of the characters led the author to consider this an 

 accidental cross from the pollen of T. vulgaris which was growing in the vicin- 

 ity. The following deductions were made : 



Cross-fertilization readily occurs with wheat. Haii-y and smooth characters 

 of the spikelet form a Mendelian character pair which, through the presence or 

 absence of a hairy genetic factor, may be explained. Awned and awnless also 

 form a Mendelian character pair that depends upon the presence or absence of a 

 restraining genetic factor. The close glumed factor of T. spelta, which, with 

 the open glumed factor of T. vulgaris is dominant, becomes recessive when com- 

 bined with T. turgidum, probably because that of the latter type is genetically 

 different from the common wheats. The character pairs, hea^^^ and smooth, 

 awned and awnless, open and closed glumes, mendelize independently of each 

 other. The square-headed type is recessive when combined with a loose-headed 

 type. There is a nearly compact head type which remains recessive when com- 

 bined with a loose head tyi^e, while a true compact head type is dominant with 

 a loose head type. Two genetic factors seem to be present in the formation of 

 pubescence of wheat. 



The management and care of plant breeding plats, L. Kiessling (Ztschr. 

 Pfianzensiicht., 1 (1912), No. 1, pp. 25-36). — This paper describes field methods 

 employed by various plant breeders and discusses the laying out and mainte- 

 nance of plats and paths; the relative advisability of strips between plats and 

 solid planting; tJbe comparison of field with plat culture; the question as to 

 whether the plat should be in the midst of the general field or isolated ; and 

 methods of hand and team labor. It deals with cereals, legumes, and cultivated 

 crops. 



Plant breeding in Scandinavia, L. H. Newman (Ottawa, Canada, 1912, pp. 

 193, pi. 1, figs. 62). — In describing the methods eujjiloyed at the Svalof experi- 

 ment station the author covers the work of the Swedish Seed Association, and 

 gives the methods first employed in plant breeding at thds station, the develop- 

 ment of the pedigree system of selection of grains, the composition of a race of 

 cereals and its variabilities, methods of applying practically the principles of 

 cereal breeding, and a summary of the work done with different cereals, legumes, 

 grasses, and potatoes. 



The adulteration and misbranding of the seed of hairy vetch, W. A. Taylor 

 (U. S. Dept. Agr., Office Sec. Circ. 45, pp. 6). — This circular gives the results in 

 tabular form of tests of 207 samples of hairy vetch seed obtained in the oj^en 

 market in 1912 and found to be adulterated or misbranded, 17 containing no 

 hairy vetch seed. These samples niarte up a.*^ per oent of the total number col- 

 lected, as compared with 62 per cent in 1911 (E. S. R., 27, p. 141). 



