434 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



these crosses are capable of rational interpretation without any complication, 

 through the recognition of independent or separable character causes or factors, 

 which are present in one parent and absent in the other, or are common to both. 

 The theory of factors (Faktorenlehre) has shown itself to be a very useful 

 hypothesis. 



The author is of the opinion that the theory of factors in no way supersedes 

 or renders superfluous the theory of cryptomery.** On the contrary this only 

 needs amplification as having possession of hidden but nevertheless reactionary 

 factors which, in consequence of altered grouping (working in combination with 

 other factoi's or separating from such), are able to postulate obvious newly 

 appearing characters. 



The author's studies are to be continued with the aim of perfecting the theory 

 of factors. 



The chemistry of the floral pig'ments, P. Q. Keegan {Chem. News, 101 

 {1913), No. 2786, pp. 181, 182). — A discussion of the origin of colors in flowers 

 in which special consideration is given to the chemical origin of the true blue 

 pigment. The author concludes, as a result of his own researches combined 

 with those of others, that a particular tannin termed caffetaunin is the actual 

 chromogen of the true blue pigment of flowers. 



Eecent investigations on Brassica grafts, L. Daniel (Compt. Rend. Acad. 

 8ci. [Paris], 156 (1913), No. 2, pp. 151, 152).— A study of grafts made be- 

 tween various cultivated species of Brassica leads the author to conclude that 

 with Brassica grafts the reserve material accumulates only in the parts of 

 the plant adapted by heredity to the function of reserve. The specific rhythms 

 of development and of tuberculization made in certain races of Brassica vary 

 profoundly under the influence of grafting. A monocarpic biennial Brassica 

 with a single colored inflorescence and tuberculization may be transformed 

 through grafting to a polycarpic plant with many colored inflorescence and 

 tuberculization. 



The author further concludes that these changes are readily explained 

 through the hypothesis of graft variation (E. S. R., 14, p. 654) but can not 

 be explained through the contrary hypothesis of immutability of stock and 

 scion (E. S. R., 22, p. 732). 



Hybridization experiments with peppers, Griffon and Pichenaud {Ann. 

 Ecole Nat. Agr. arignon. 3 {1912), pp. 63-72, figs. 6).— In 190S the authors 

 crossed a long black Mexican pepper with a sweet American pepper of the 

 bull-nose type.^ The present paper comprises a study of the offspring as con- 

 tinued by Moreau and Pichenaud, including a review of the earlier work. 



Tomato investigations, J. G. Boyle and J. B. Abbott {Indiana Sta. Bui. 165, 

 pp. 789-830, figs. 18). — In continuation of previous investigations on tomato 

 growing (B. S. R., 24, p. 39) work was begun in 1910 and continued through 

 1911 and 1912 to determine the relation of the following factors to economic 

 tomato production for canning purposes : Source of seed supply, varieties, 

 methods of starting and handling seedling tomato plants before setting in the 

 field, cultivation, and spraying for the control of leaf spot. Fertilizer experi- 

 ments have also been conducted during the past 5 years. The result of these 

 investigations are here discussed in detail. 



A test of 12 strains of Stone tomato seed secured from 8 prominent seed 

 houses showed considerable variation in yield and in the bearing season of 

 the strains. No definite conclusions are drawn as to the best source of tomato 

 seed. It appears, however, that regardless of the location of the seed houses 



"Bot. Centbl., Beihefte, 16 (1904), No. 1, pp. 11-35. 

 >Ann. ficole Nat. Agr. Grignon, 1 (1910), p. IIG. 



