424 EXPEEIMENT STATION KECOKD. 



upon a test of the synthetic medium prepared by Greig-Smith (E. S. R., 26, p. 

 816) for the determination of Rhizobia in the soil. Their expeiiments led to 

 the conclusion that B. radicicola grows sparingly and shows no special charac- 

 teristics upon synthetic agar made in accordance with the formula mentioned 

 above. 



Correlation studies of some hybrids, Tine Tammes {Rec. Trav. Bot. N6er- 

 land, 10 (1913), No. 1, pp. 69-S//).— The results of studies of the correlation of 

 various flower, leaf, and fruit characters of hybrids between Linum angusti- 

 foliiwi and a variety of cultivated flax (L. usitatissimum) from Egypt are 

 reported. 



A striking correlation in the peach, U. P. Hedrick (Science, n. ser., 31 

 (19J3), No. 963, pp. 917, 918).— During the spring of the current year attention 

 was called to the fact that in a considerable number of varieties of peaches there 

 was found a difference in the color of the inside of the calyx cups. In some 

 the color was light green, varying somewhat in different varieties, while in 

 others the inner part of the cup was a deep orange in color. 



In considering this difference in color of the flower and the characters of the 

 fruit, a correlation was shown. Of the peaches 145 varieties were white in flesh 

 and green inside the calyx cup, and 162 yellow in flesh and orange inside the 

 calsrx cup. In the nectarines white and green were correlated in 36 varieties, 

 and yellow and orange in 11 varieties. 



This correlation is believed to be of practical value in peach breeding, since 

 it will enable the breeder to determine the color of flesh of peaches somewhat 

 earlier than otherwise, and it will also add a constant taxonomic character, 

 which may be of value to peach growers. 



Is the biennial habit of CEnothera races constant in their native localities, 

 G. F. Atkinson (Science, n. ser., 31 (1913), No. 95S, pp. 716, 7i7).— The author 

 states that from his experience in the culture of Oenothera he is led to believe 

 that their behavior as to a strict biennial habit in even their native locality 

 may be different under cultural conditions in either the greenhouse or garden 

 from what it is in the open field. Fully formed rosettes potted in the autumn 

 and taken into the greenhouse did not form stems nor come into flower any 

 earlier than plants wintered in the garden. Attention is called to the possi- 

 bility of certain races of ffinothera becoming perennial or taking on a perennial 

 habit under certain conditions. 



Seeds and plants imported during the period from. January 1 to March 

 31, 1912: Inventory No. 30 (U. S. Dept. A(jr., Bur. Plant Indus. Bui. 282, 

 pp. 99). — This inventory gives an account of seeds and plants imported during 

 the period indicated, the number of items being about 1,900. These represent 

 material forwarded by a number of persons, and among them are collections 

 made by F. N. Meyer in Chinese Turkestan, C. V. Piper of forage plants in India, 

 and W. T. Swingle of various plants discovered during a recent trip to Spain. 



FIELD CROPS. 



[Experiments in field crops], E. G. Schollander (North Dakota Sta., Rpt. 

 Williston SuJjsta., 1912, pp. 14-65, figs. 2). — This report continues previous 

 work (E. S. R., 29, p. 226). 



In the cereal plant nursery, which is considered by the author a very satis- 

 factory method of plant selection, kowliang sorghutn and proso are proving 

 of value. A variety of the latter. Black Vorenezh G. I. No. 16, yielded at 

 the rate of 24 bu. per acre, testing 57 lbs. per bushel. In a variety test with 

 spring wheat the yields ranged from 40.7 to 51.7 bu. per acre. IChe average 

 yields of different classes of wheat for the years 1908 to 1912 were Blue Stems 



