FIELD CROPS. 527 



The chromosome view of heredity and its meaning to plant breeders, 

 E. M. East {Amer. Nat., Jf9 (1915), No. 584. pp. 4o7-494, figs. 5).— This is a 

 discussion of data bearing upon the relative importance of the cell nucleus 

 and cytoplasm, the morphological and physiological individuality of the chro- 

 mosomes, and Mendelian inheritance in connection therewith. The evidence is 

 considered to indicate with a reasonable degree of certainty that the chro- 

 mosomes are the chief if not the sole bearers of' hereditary determinants of body 

 characters, and that their behavior is a rougli indication of the mechanism of 

 heredity. 



The bearing of the above facts on plant and animal breeding is discussed in 

 regard to the relations of chromosomes to somatic characters, and the relations 

 of normal as well as of peculiar or unusual chromosome behavior to the trans- 

 mission of characters. 



An extensive bibliography is appended. 



Inventory of seeds and plants imported by the Office of Foreign Seed and 

 Plant Introduction during the period from July 1 to September 30, 1913 

 (U. S. Dept. Af/r., Bur. Plant Indiift. Invcntonj No. 36 {1915), pp. 7^. pis. 6).— 

 In this inventory, notes are given of nearly 600 lots of seeds and plants secured 

 from miscellaneous collectors for distribution by the Office of Foreign Seed and 

 Plant Introduction, many of the numbers having come from collections made 

 by Meyer in China and Wight in South America. 



FIELD CROPS. 



On the influence of planting distance on the yield of crops, F. J. Chit- 

 tenden (Jovr. Roy. Hort. Soc, Jfl (1915), No. 1, pp. 88-93, figs. 2). — In order to 

 determine the influence of planting distance on crops, plats consisting of three 

 find foih" rows of turnips spaced 18 in. between the rows and 4 ft. 6 in. between 

 the plats were grown as early and as late crops. Data showing the compara- 

 tive weights of tops, roots, and whole plant of individual rows are given. 



In two cases only, in the 3-row plats, the roots produced by the inner row 

 were of a higher average weight than those of the corresponding outer rows. 

 In no case did the average weight of the tops from an inner row plant exceed 

 the highest of the corresponding outer rows, and in only one case did the total 

 average weight of a plant from an inner row equal that of the highest corre- 

 sponding outer row. 



Data show that in the 4-row plats " in no case did the weight of roots from 

 an inner row exceed that from one or other of the corresponding outer rows, 

 and in only sis of the 88 opportunities did it exceed that of the lower' of the 

 outer rows. Taking the combined weights of tops and roots, in only two plats 

 did the total weight of an inner row exceed one or other of the corresponding 

 outer rows, and in none was the highest yield given by an inner row. In every 

 case but one the lowest yield on the plat, whether of tops, roots, or total, was 

 in an inner row." 



Beclamation of swamp land, J. W. Deem {.Jour. Agr. [New Zeal.], 11 (1915), 

 No. 5. pp. 422-424, figs. 3). — This article gives a method for transforming swamp 

 land in New Zealand from almost useless grazing country to good cattle- 

 fattening land. The method consists in first draining the land with open 

 ditches ; plowing to a depth of 4 or 5 in. ; seeding turnips, which are pas- 

 tured off by cattle and followed with a crop of rape which is pastured ; and 

 then sowing with Italian rye grass and clover. 



Irrigated agriculture in the San Luis "Valley, "V. M. Cone and A. Kezeb 

 (Colorado Sta. Bui. 209 (1915), pp. 3^2).— This bulletin describes the San Luis 

 Valley agricultural conditions and gives suggestions for the production of 



