226 EXPERIMENT STATION RECOBD. 



On the origin and beliavior of (Enothera rubricalyx, R. R. Gates (Jour. 

 Genetics, 4 (1015), No. 4, pp. 353-360). — The author, critically discussing phases 

 of recent work and conclusions as given by ShuU (E. S. R., 32, p, 521), claims 

 that the supposedly pure CE. rubricalyx used was in reality a hybrid, and that 

 this should everywhere in that article be treated as a cross between CE. rubri- 

 calyx and CE. grand iflora. 



Note on the inheritance of heterostylism in Primula acaulis, R. P. Gregoby 

 (Jour. Genetics, 4 (1015, No. Jf, pp. 303, 304)- — The author reports that in ex- 

 periments with P. acaulis the results obtained from different niatings were simi- 

 lar to those from previous studies (E. S. R., 25, p, 328) with P. sinensis. The 

 inheritance of the characters short style and long style was of a simple Mende- 

 lian type, the former being dominant, the latter recessive. 



On variegation in Primula sinensis, R. P. Gregory (Jour. Genetics, 4 (1915), 

 No. 4, pp. 305-321, pis. 2). — An account is given of observations uix)u a race of 

 P. sinensis in which it has been found that the characters of normal green, 

 variegated, or pale yellowish green organs containing chloroplasts are trans- 

 mitted from parent to offspring through the egg cells only, the male gamete ap- 

 parently playing no part in determining the nature of the zygote in respect 

 of these characters. The facts as noted are thought to support the hypothesis 

 that the plastids of the zygote are derived solely from those present in the 

 unfertilized egg, and that certain characters are inherent in the plastids and are, 

 therefore, handed on to the products of its division. 



A proposetl modification of the current hypothesis as outlined is thought to 

 explain tlie maternal transmission of characters as herein discussed. 



Parthenocarpy in fruits, A. Ostebwaldeu (Lnndir. Jahrb. Schwciz,29 (1915), 

 A'o. 1, pp. 25, 26). — Referring to previous studies of Ewert (E. S. R., 21, p. 29; 

 24, p. 339), the author gives the results of observations during several years 

 on apples and pears of .several varieties which sho\ve«l parthenocarpic fruits 

 in widely ranging percentages. This potentiality is believed to be common even 

 in highly bred varieties and to offer possibilities of considerable practical im- 

 portance. 



New or noteworthy grasses, A. S. Hitchcock (.itncr. Jour, Bot., 2 (1915), 

 Xo. 6, pp. 299-310). — A list of new or noteworthy grasses resulting from a recent 

 i-evision of the specimens of grasses from the United States in the National 

 Herbarium is given. 



A study of soil fungi from Norway, A. E. Tbaaen (Nyt Mag. Naturmdensk., 

 52 (1914), Xo. 1-2, pp. 19-121, pi. 1, figs. 7). — From soils of different parts of 

 Norway 120 fungi were isolated and studied. Of these only 7 were very com- 

 monly met. These were the new genus Geomyces, with G. vulgaris, G. sulphur- 

 cus, and G. auratus n. spp. ; the new genus Humicola, with H. juscoatra and H. 

 grisea n. spp.; Triehodcrma lignorum; and Actinomyces sp. Rarely occurring 

 forms described are G. cretaceus n. sp. and Chwtomidium barbatuni n. sp. 



A bibliography of related literature is given. 



An automatic transpiration scale of large capacity for use with freely 

 exposed plants, L. J. Bkiggs and H. L. Shantz (I . S. Dcpt. Ayr., Jour. Agr. 

 Research, 5 (1915), No. 3, pp. 117-132, pis. 3, figs. IS). — In this paper the authors 

 have described an automatic transpiration scale of 200 kg. capacity and 5 gm. 

 sensibility, designed for use in connection with the large culture pots employed 

 by them in their water requirement measurements (E. S. R., 32. p. 127). 



A brief review is also given of other classes of transpiration balances. 



