730 EXPERIMENT STATIOiST RECORD. [Vol.41 



production of the principal crops in the United Kingdom, brief notes on their 

 utilization, and other information deemed of interest relative to the various 

 crops are presented. 



Rotations and crop distribution, F. Paeisot {Rotations et Assolements. 

 Paris: Libr. Larousse, [1911], pp. 136, figs. 2). — A practical treatise on the 

 subject. 



The effect of drying on the germination of cereals, R. G. Stapledon and 

 M. Adams {Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 26 {1919), No. 4, pp. 36-^-381).— The au- 

 thors describe observations made at the English Seed Testing Station on the 

 effect upon the germination of samples of wheat, barley, rye. and oats of dry- 

 ing the seed for three days at 40° C. (104° F.), and of holding it without 

 drying for three weeks as compared with tests made upon the samples as 

 received. Observations were also made on the effect of drying upon poorly 

 developed and sprouted grain. The results secured are believed to have a 

 significant bearing, both on routine seed testing and on the problem of 

 "conditioning" grain. 



Some risk is said to be involved in sowing these cereals, even when in a 

 sound condition, early in the fall and immediately after thrashing. Kiln- 

 drying with subsequent air-drying is recommended for wheat, barley, and rye 

 under such circumstances, while in the case of oats air-drying for two or 

 three weeks is deemed best. It is also stated that tests made after drying or 

 holding the seed are much more representative of the commercial value of 

 the sample than tests made when the sample is received. 



A new cultural process for cereals, C. Rossi {Kiiovo Processo per la Colti- 

 vazvone del Cereali. Milan: Ulrica Hoepli [1911], pp. 8, pis. 7, figs. 5; abs. in 

 Physiol. Abs., 4 {1919), No. 5, p. 2^4). — Immersing the seed of cereal crops in a 

 3 per cent solution of ammonium nitrate for from 12 to 14 hours is said to 

 have increased the yield of grain 25 per cent and that of straw 30 per cent. 



Breeding small grains in Minnesota {Minnesota Sta. Bui. 182 {1919), pp. 

 5-56, figs. 14). — This bulletin comprises two parts, as follows: 



Part I. Technique and results with iclieat and oats, by H. K. Hayes and 

 R. J. Garber (pp. 5-44). — The methods employed in plant breeding work at 

 the station are described, and the results secured with winter and spring 

 wheat and oats outlined. The work may be summarized as follows : 



Cereal breeding includes introductions of new sorts, selections, and crosses 

 followed by selection. New introductions are deemed essential if the breeder 

 is to have the best material as a basis for study. Introductions that appear 

 promising in preliminary row tests are used as a basis of selection, while 

 selections from commercial sorts are also made. The head selection method is 

 used, from 50 to 200 heads being selected the first year. Nonpromising sorts 

 are eliminated in the field and the second year three systematically distributed 

 plats of a single 18-foot row each are grown for each selection, one foot being 

 removed from each end before harvest. The third year tests are made in three 

 plats of three 18-foot rows each, the central row only of each plat being used 

 for the yield test. Border rows are grown to obtain more accurate data on 

 lodging and to overcome competition between near-by sorts. 



Crosses are made between parental sorts selected because of some particular 

 characters. No selections are made in the Fx of a cross, as all plants are of the 

 same genotype. Noncrosses are immediately discarded. A large plat is grown 

 in the F2. individual plants selected, and the seed of each plant sown in a sep- 

 ai-ate plat in the F3. Selection by this method is continued until many homo- 

 zygous forms are obtained. As homozygous sorts appear they are placed in the 

 rod-row test and handled thereafter the same as selections. All row tests are 



