338 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



Variety tests with cotton, 1912, F. G. Tarbox, Jr. {^outh Carolina Sta. Circ. 

 11, pp. 3, 4). — This circular consists of a table giving yields per acre of seed 

 cotton, percentage of lint, and length of lint in inches. Felkel, the variety pro- 

 ducing the highest percentage of lint, 42.1 per cent, ranging from f to 1 in. in 

 length, was one of the best yielders, producing 1,518 lbs. per acre. 



Cotton industry in Southern India, H. D. Baker (Daily Cons, and Trade 

 Rpts. [U. S.], 16 {1918), No. 173, pp. 513-516).— With the introduction of Cam- 

 bodia cotton Southern India exports have more than doubled in quantity and 

 more than trebled in value within the last decade, or since Tinnevelly sorts 

 were grown. It is noted that the Cambodia cotton flourishes as a heavily 

 manured and irrigated crop. Conditions of manufacturing and the status of the 

 industry are also discussed. 



The fertility constituents in flax, J. W. Ince (North Dakota Sta. Bui. 106, 

 pp. 5-9). — This paper contains data, compiled from various sources, showing 

 that in equal weights " flax-seed contains over twice as much fertility as does 

 the average of the 6 common grain crops cited; that flax-seed contains more 

 manurial value than the highly nitrogenous oil-bearing seeds; that with the 

 exception of potassium, flax-seed contains more fertilizing ingredients than do 

 the seeds of the six legumes mentioned. Again, though flax straw contains 

 less phosphorus and potassium than does the straw of legumes and grains, yet 

 it occupies a position about half way between the latter two with regard to 

 its nitrogen content. 



The author believes that inasmuch as flax products are very rich in manurial 

 constituents they should be carefully conserved on the farm. 



On the origin of cultivated oats, L. Trabut (IV. Conf. Internat. G^netique 

 Paris, Compt. Rend, et Raps., 1911, pp. 336-346, figs. iO).— The author concludes 

 that " at least 3 wild species of Avena, under the influence of culture, may 

 acquire characters fitting them for cultivation. These 3 species preserve the 

 ancestral characters by which they are adapted to different climates. "A. fatua 

 gives rise to oats adapted to temperate and mountainous regions ; A. sterUis, to 

 oats adapted to the southern countries, and to saline soils ; A. darMta, to races 

 adapted to dry countries." 



See also a previous note (E. S. R., 27, p. 237). 



Studies in potato breeding, R. N. Salaman (IV. Conf. Internat. Gen4tique 

 Paris, Compt. Rend, et Raps., 1911, pp. 373-376). — This article gives a rgsum^ 

 of previous work (E. S. R., 24, pp. 429, 632), with more recent results. The 

 characters discussed are shape of tuber, the tuber eyes, color, and disease 

 resistance. Results showed that the shape depended on the length character. 

 " Superficial eyes " were found to be dominant over deep eyes, and color 

 characters were found to follow Mendelian laws with certain compositions 

 of reds and of purples or blacks with their developing pigment when selfed. 

 " Upright " positions of growth were dominant over " proneness." Crossing 

 for disease resistance had not been carried far enough for results. See also 

 a previous note (E. S. R., 28, p. 632). 



Experiments on the improvement of rice in Java by seed selection, J. Van 

 Breda De Haan (Bui. Econ. Indoeliine, n. ser., 16 (1913), No. 100, pp. 11-28).— 

 According to the appearance of the spikes found in some 6,400 samples, 2 

 groups were made, Oryza sativa and 0. glutinosa. Treatment of the kernels 

 of the 2 groups with a diluted solution of iodin produced a violet color on the 

 surface of those from the 0. sativa group, and a reddish-brown color in the 

 O. glutinosa group. These groups were further divided into 4 varieties, viz, 

 colored glumes, red awns, yellow awns, and awnless. Further divisions were 

 made according to external characters until 751 varieties were obtained in the 

 O. sativa group and 141 in the 0. glutinosa group. 



