FIELD CROPS. 337 



M. Nelson and C. V. Ruzek, describes S. varieties of corn suitable for Arkansas 

 conditions. 



The shrinkage of shelled corn while in cars in transit, J. W. T. Dtjvel and 

 L. Duval {TJ. aS'. Dcpt. Agr. Bui. //8, pp. 21, figs. 8). — This bulletin reports a 

 continuation of work already noted (E. S. li.. 25, p. 638). Data are given re- 

 garding 4 shipments of cars of corn loaded at Baltimore for Chicago, including 

 percentage of moisture and sound corn, weight per busbel, percentage of cob, 

 dirt, and badly broken kernels, temperature of corn when loaded and unloaded, 

 and net weight. 



The summary of the results of three of these experiments shows that the 

 average natural shrinkage in 12 cars of corn in transit from Baltimore to 

 Chicago and return amounted to 0.33 i)er cent, while in 12 duplicate cars held on 

 the track at Baltimore it was 0.41 per cent. The average temperature at 

 the time of unloading the corn in the 12 cars that were shipped was 60°, as 

 against 64° F. for the cars held at Baltimore, this difference being accounted 

 for by the fact that the temperature of the air through which the cars passed 

 en route to Chicago and return was usually lower than that of the air sur- 

 rounding the cars at Baltimore. 



The authors maintain that there is unquestionably a natural shrinkage in 

 commercial corn during transit and in storage, varying with the moisture 

 conditions of the corn and the atmospheric conditions to which it is exposed. 

 It is very rapid in com that has become hot and sour, and. may amount to 

 several per cent within a few days. 



Cotton breeding- experiments and valuation of individual plants in cotton 

 breeding, B. Wunder (Pflanzer, 8 {1912), No. 7, pp. 398-411).— The author 

 presents the following formula for placing a value on individual plants for 

 use in making comparisons for breeding purposes: 



V=— — p |-2Xweight of 100 seeds+staple length + 10 X average yield per boll. 



The formula employed to determine the relative growth of plants was as follows : 



^ , number of branches X length of stem. 

 Growth= 2 — ^ 



Tables are given showing the results of the application of these formulas to 

 '\>>'> individual plants grown in 10 different fields. 



The inheritance of measurable characters in hybrids between reputed 

 species of cotton, W. L. Balls (IV. Conf. Internat. Gen^tique Paris, Conipt. 

 Rend, et Raps., 1911, pp. 429-PfO, figs. 9). — In the crossing of cottons the author 

 has made observations and collected data on the inheritance of a merestic char- 

 acter (number of loculi in the ovary), the weight of the seed, and the length 

 of lint. His conclusions are that " the error from natural crossing is a serious 

 obstacle to precise work on genetics in cotton. The behavior of the foreign 

 pollen is closely analogous to that of a parasitic fungus. The pollen from the 

 Fi of reputed species-crosses has a higher infection-capacity than that of either 

 parent. The correlation of one character with another cau.«!es new dimensional 

 features to appear in the hybrids. The expression of any character is thus 

 determined firstly by its gametic origin, secondly by simple fluctuation, and 

 thirdly by ' autogenous fluctuation '. Even the simplest Meudelian inheritance, 

 viz, the 3: 1 ratio, may thus provide an F2 in which the expression of the char- 

 acter is externally similar to simple chance distribution." 



See also a previous note (E. S. R., 28, p. 631). 



Propagation of cotton by cuttings, G. Castet (Rev. Hort. Alg^rie, 16 (1912), 

 No. 5, pp. 144-l''t^^ fio^- 4)' — This article describes the methods employed by 

 means of which herbaceous cotton branches were successfully grown under glass 

 by cuttings or slips, as a means of multiplying an especially promising plant. 



