332 EXPEEIMEISTT STATION EECOED. 



which the seed coats were mutilated, gave satisfactory results. Freezing the 

 seeds immediately before planting also increased germination. 



Reports of the cooperative tests of natural hybrids between the blue and 

 yellow flowered alfalfas that occur in Asia and Southern Europe ai-e given in 

 detail. These hybrids get their names from the region from which they come 

 and are reported under the names of Semipalatinsk, Cossack, Chemo, Orenburg, 

 Samara, Omsk, and Obb. The history of the introduction of Turkestan, Si- 

 berian, and Russian alfalfa is also given. 



Alfalfa inoculation tests, C. W. Pugsley (Nebraska Sta. Bui. 1S6, pp. SS, 

 figs. 2). — This bulletin reports cooperative experiments carried on during 1910 

 and 1911, to test the value of pure cultures, soil, and barnyard manure in the 

 production of alfalfa. 



From the results obtained, the use of farm manure in proper amounts and 

 properly applied is strongly recommended, and where difficulties have been 

 experienced in securing a good stand or vigorous growth of alfalfa, inoculation 

 has proved successful. Inoculation with soil from a well-established alfalfa 

 field gave uniformly better results than were secured by the use of liquid 

 cultures. 



A Mendelian study with beets, B. Kajantjs (Fuhlin^'s Landw. Ztg., 61 

 {1912), No. J{, pp. lJi2-149). — In studying the form factors the various types 

 of form, as tapering, blunt, cylindrical, and wedge-shaped, were crossed and 

 the manner in which these segregated in the offispring was noted. Four differ- 

 ent and independent form factors were observed, 2 of which seemed to act on 

 the diameter of the beet and 2 on the length. Any one of the factors may 

 appear separately, or there may be an appearance in any combination. 



In a study of color factors the author crossed stock beets of various colors, 

 ranging through white, yellow, and red. The yellow crosses produced yellow 

 in the first generation, and in the second segregated into 15 yellow and 1 red, 

 in a similar way as certain crosses in the study of forms. Also, the yellow 

 seemed to have 2 independent factors producing different color tones. 



Similar experiments with turnips are reported and discussed. 



The action of different fertilizers on the exterior appearance of beets, 

 H. RoEMEB and G. Wimmek (Sucr. Indi^. et Colon., 80 {1912), No. 16, pp. 

 365-369). — This paper reports observations made at the agricultural station at 

 Bernburg. 



Among the more important results noted are that an excess of nitrogen pro- 

 duced an increased growth of 3 to 4 times during July to October, varying with 

 the weather conditions. An excess of potash produced irregular and injurious 

 results, showing specially critical periods during September. When fertilized 

 early with phosphoric acid the leaves took on a very dark color, and as they 

 approached the dying stage turned a reddish hue. 



The influence of light on the growth of beet seeds, F. Stbohmeb {Orig. 

 Commun. 8. Intemat. Cong. Appl. Chem. [Washington and New Yorh], 8 {1912), 

 Sect. Va. pp. 79-83).— Three beets of similar size and shape, containing an equal 

 percentage of sugar, were cut in half longitudinally, and one-half of each beet 

 was planted in the open and the other half in the shade of a tree. The beets in 

 the direct sunlight gave much better seed yields than those in the shade, rank- 

 ing as 100 to 25.5, 26.4, and 6.1, respectively. An examination did not show any 

 noteworthy difference in the quality of the seeds. 



Beet seeds, J. J. Weiss {Ztschr. Zuckerindus. Bohmen, 36 {1912), No. 11, pp. 

 61(5-650). — This paper is a discussion of the causes of the varying results ob- 

 taine<l in testing beet seeds in regard to their germinating ability and energy. 

 Variations in seed of the same plant are attributed to the character of the indl- 



