632 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.43 



AGRICULTURAL BOTANY. 



The problems of experimental heredity, L. Blaringhem {Les Probl^mes 

 de VH6r^dit^ Exp6rimentale. Paris: Ernest Flammarion, 1919, pp. 311, figs. 

 20). — The material iu the three main divisions of this book (which deals with 

 heredity more extensively on the botanical side), namely, normal heredity, 

 hybrids between species, and crossings of varieties, is further subdivided into 

 chapters. These deal, respectively, with pure lines ; the biometric laws of 

 fluctuating heredity ; mixed heredity ; mosaic or Naudinic heredity ; unilateral 

 heredity ; the duration and heterogeneity of tissues in hybrids ; the laws of 

 alternate or Mendellan heredity ; characters of varieties and their hereditary 

 transmission ; and the hypotheses of Mendel and Mendelian polyhybrids. 



The genetics of Campanule carpatica, G. Pellew (Gard. Chron., 3. ser., 66 

 (1919), No. 1715, p. 23S, figs. 3). — The author here presents in condensed form, 

 with comments, the account previously noted (E. S. R., 39, p. 123). 



On the relation between number of chromosomes and number of types, 

 in Lathyrus especially, O. Winge (Jour. Genetics, 8 {1919), No. 2, pp. 133-138, 

 pi. 1). — The author gives details of a study of the chromosome number in 

 Lathyrus odoratus and L. latifolius, in both of which this number was seven. 

 This low chromosome number is considered to favor the use of Lathyrus in 

 genetic experiments. 



Double flowers and sex-linkage in Begonia, W. Bateson and I. Sutton 

 (Jour. Genetics 8 (1919), No. 3, pp. 199-207, pi. i).— This is a brief account of 

 a discovery made when Begonia davisii, originally a wild plant from Peru, 

 was brought into a series of experiments then in progress. It was used (on 

 account of its being a genuine (wild) species breeding true on self-fertilization) 

 as a single for crossing with doubles. When these crosses were made it was 

 found that any double fertilized with pollen of B. davisii gives only double- 

 flowered offspring (being thus double-bearing, but on the male side only, since 

 the same plant fertilized with its own pollen gives singles only). Tested, how- 

 ever, with the pollen of a double it gave a result which has not been satisfac- 

 torily Interpreted, as here detailed with discussion. The conclusion reached 

 that the male side of this wild species must be genetically all double is con- 

 sidered noteworthy. 



The presence of iodin in plants, E. Winteestein (Ztschr. Phys. Chem., 104 

 (1918), No. 1, pp. 5Jt-58). — A long list of plants was examined for iodin, which 

 was found in Beta vulgaris, Solanum tuberosum, Apium graveolens, Lactuca 

 saliva., and Daucus carota. 



The behavior of some organic substances in plants, X, G. Ciamician and 

 C. Ravenna (Gaz. Chim. Ital., ^8 (1918), I, No. ^-6, pp. 253-304, figs. 7).— This 

 communication, which is one of a series previously noted (E. S. R., 39, p. 526), 

 is in three parts. The first deals with the action of some substances on germi- 

 nation and development ; the second with oxidation in the plant ; and the third 

 with the elimination of certain substances by the aerial organs of plants. 



Rutin, the flavone pigment of Eschscholtzia californica, C. E. Sando and 

 H. H. Baktlett (Jour. Biol. Chem., .'fl (1920), No. If, pp. 495-501, pis. 2).—E. 

 californica, containing in its petals nearly 5 per cent of rutin (quercetin glucoso- 

 rhamnosid) and showing a color range from golden yellow to white, and from 

 white to rose, was chosen as affording specially suitable material for the study 

 of the physiological and genetic relationships of the flavouol and authocyanin 

 pigments. The preliminary work here outlined dealt chiefly with the prepara- 

 tion, properties, and distribution of rutin, the identification of quercetin, and 

 the determination of the sugars resulting from hydrolysis. • It is considered that 



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