124 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



activity, and arc not to be considered when found in the flower as designed primarily 

 for the attraction of insects. 



The occurrence of chromoplasts in a reserve organ and of reserve starch in the 

 petals of certain plants suggests that these organs have a function of storing nutrient 

 material. 



Mutants and hybrids of the CEnotheras, 1>. T. MacDougal et al. {Carnegie 

 Vast. Washington Pub. 24, pp. 57, pis. 22, figs. .'. dgms. 11).— The authors give the 

 results of investigations carried on t<. determine the ancestral habitat of Oenothera 

 lamarckiana, the relationship of this species to various- others and to certain hybrids, 

 the dominance of parental characters in hybrids, and the estimation of the fluctu- 

 ating variability of some of the characters of different species. 



The cultures of the evening primroses made at the New York Botanical Garden 

 show that two or more elementary species are grouped together under some of the 

 specific names as ordinarily accepted. The failure to recognize these elements has 

 resulted in the prevalent opinions as to the wide range .if variability exhibited by 

 these plants. 



It is evident that in the investigation of native species for possible mutating forms 

 the first task to be completed is the resolution of the forms selected into their ele- 

 mentary constituents, and mutations may be taken as properly authenticated only 

 when appearing in guarded pedigree cultures from seeds produced by a known indi- 

 vidual, which should always be preserved f< >r c< >mparis< >n. A study of various known 

 mutants seems to indicate that mutation is induced or at least increased by favorable 

 and not by adverse conditions. 



The wild legumes of Maryland and their utilization, J. B. S. Norton and 

 E. P. Walls | Maryland $ta. Bui. 100, pp. 97-124. figs. 17). — In this bulletin the 

 authors furnish a list of the leguminous plants known to occur in the wild state in 

 Maryland, showing the localities, kinds of soil, and surroundings where they grow 

 best, and indicating the possible ways in which they may be utilized. 



Suggestions are offered as to the possible improvement of some of the more prom- 

 ising species, experiments along this line being in progress at the station. After 

 briefly describing the value of leguminous plants in restoring soil fertility, the authors 

 take up the enumeration and distribution of species throughout the State. 



Inoculation for the growth of legumes, F. T. Shutt {Canada Krj>t. Farms Rpts. 

 1904, pp- 164-166). — The author gives a brief statement as to the work that has been 

 carried on at the Canada experimental farms relating to inoculation for the growth 

 of legumes. 



Experiments have been carried on with cultures prepared in Germany a< well as 

 those obtained from this Department, and the author states that as a result of 

 his observations the necessity for inoculation is not as great as was once thought to 

 be the case. In the Province of Ontario, at least, the failures to obtain a good catch 

 of clover have been due to a deficiency of moisture, unsuitable mechanical condition 

 of the soil, or insufficient drainage rather than to a lack of nitrogen-assimilating 

 organisms. 



A similar condition was found to prevail in British Columbia, and the author con- 

 cludes that the severity of the winter, lack of moisture, uncongenial conditions of 

 soil, or poor seed will be found to militate more against successful clover growing 

 than any supposed lack el' tubercle bacteria. 



The proliferation of tobacco flowers, F. W. T. Hunger | Ann. .lard. Hot. Buiten- 

 zorg, J. ser., 4{J9o4),pt. l t pp. 57-60, pis. 2). — Descriptions are given of a curious prolif 

 eration of tobacco flowers in which the character as a flower in some cases has total h 

 disappeared. 



Principles of classification of bacteria, F. D. Chester {Abs. in Science, n. ser. 

 21 {190-5), No. 535, pp. 485, 486). — The author claims that as far as possible morph 

 logical characters should be the primary basis for the classification of bacteria, and f< 





