10191 FIELD CROPS. 635 



lamarckmna, a second Is named hccida, and the third is eitlier suhrohusta or 

 rubrinervis. These behave in ways which are supposedly explained on the 

 supposition that (E. rubrinervis is a half mutant. CE7. oblonga is analogous to 

 CE. rubrinervis in some respects. CE. nanella seems to arise through mutations 

 in the velutina gametes of CE. lamarckiana. 



The history of Primula malacoides under cultivation, A. W. Hill (Jour. 

 Genetics, 7 (1018), No. 3, pp. 193-198, pis. 2, fig. 1).—A brief account is given 

 of the history of P. malacoides since its discovery in 1884 in cultivated fields at 

 Ta-li, Yunnan, China. It is said to have displayed a considerable range of 

 variation during this period, which is short as compared with the time taken 

 to produce the variations which have been observed to occur in P. sinensis 

 and P. obconica. 



Axillary cleistogenes in some American grasses, A. Chase (4mer. Jotir. 

 Bat., 5 (1918), No. 5, pp. 254-258, figs. 5).— As a result of her study of the pro- 

 duction of cleistogamous grains by a number of grasses, the author states that 

 the axillary cleistogenes and the Ghasmogenes (normal spikelets) produced 

 by the same plant are so unlike that they would not, If their source were un- 

 known, be placed In the .^ame tribe. The cleistogenes are found to be more 

 variable than are the chasmogenes of the same species. The author is Inclined 

 to think, from the many cases found by relatively little study, that the 

 cleistogamous habit is not rare among the grasses. 



Plant introduction opportunities open to all the Americas, D. Fairchild 

 (Proc. 2. Pan Amer. Sci. Cong., 1915-16, vol. 3, pp. 503-510, pi. 1). — This is a 

 consideration of the possibilities of plant exchange between countries. 



FIELD CEOPS. 



The experimental error in field trials, H. H. Love (Jovr. Amer. Soc. Agron., 

 11 (1919), No. 5, pp. 212-216). — In this paper, a contribution from the New York 

 Cornell Experiment Station, the author offers a critical discussion of certain 

 features of Kiesselbach's work on the elimination of experimental error in 

 crop tests, previously noted (E. S. R., 39, p. 829). The points considered Include 

 observations on competition between rows and the conclusions reached regard- 

 ing the use of the probable error in interpreting results. 



The effect of " place " on yield of crops, F. J. Chittenden (Jour. Roy. Hort. 

 Soc., ^Jf (1919), pp. 72-7Jf, pis. 2). — Observations on some experimenfaJ plats 

 at Wisley are held to indicate that place is an important factor in the yield of 

 potatoes and should receive careful consideration when making comparisons 

 between yields on different plats. 



Up-to-Date potatoes were planted in 8 pairs of plats, each plat having three 

 rows of potatoes equal distances apart and each row containing 18 plants 

 equally distributed. The plats were so arranged that the outer row was 

 separated 4 or 5 ft. from the outer row of the next plat and the pair of plats 

 separated at the ends, so that the plants at the ends of the two inner rows 

 had an additional exposure on one side and the end plant of the outer row a 

 greater exposure on two sides than the other plants in their respective rows. 



Based on the total yield of the outer row as 100, the average results for the 

 three rows on all plats was as 100 : 72 : 72. The yield of the end plats of all rows 

 compared with the average yield of other plants in the same rows was as 

 100 : 82. The average yield of the corner plants referred to above was as 

 100 : 66 when compared with the other end plants, as 100 : 79 when compared 

 with the other plants in the outer row, and as 100 : 57 when compared with the 

 inner plants. It is concluded, therefore, that the most advantageous place is at 



