372 THE ALTERNATE VOTE. 



Parliamentary contests, but daily everywhere in electing the best 

 applicant for every post or office. We have examined eight 

 methods of selection, and I have given Nanson's proof that his 

 is the only one sure in all cases to give correct expression to the 

 wishes of the majority of the electors, and its application to the 

 selection of the best of three candidates is simple and easy. It 

 should therefore be adopted in every case. 



NOTES ON THE MORPHOLOGY OF THE MAIZE 

 INFLORESCENCE. 



By Joseph Burtt-Davv, F.L.S. 



(Abstract.) 



Various abnormal developments of the maize inflorescence 

 were illustrated and discussed. These included : (a) monoecism 

 in the staminate infloresence (" tassel") of sucker shoots and 

 (rarely also) of the main stem ; (b) the branching of the pistillate 

 inflorescence ("ear"); (c) development of staminate spikelets at 

 the ends of the branches of an " ear " ; (d) fasciation of the 

 " ear " ; (e) tendency of the ear towards splitting into spikes of 

 distichous spikelets ; (f) the development of secondary ear-bearing 

 branches from the nodes of the upper primary ear-bearmg 

 branches ; (g) the homology of the inflorescence of the lower 

 primary branches (" suckers ") with that of the upper primary 

 branches (" ears "). 



The tendency of either form of inflorescence to produce 

 branches, as also of either form to produce both staminate and 

 pistillate spikelets, was commented upon. The author expressed 

 regret that he had not opportunity to follow up the subject, but 

 that he thought it desirable to place his observations on record 

 for the use of those who might be investigating similar problems 

 in other plants. 



INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURE, 



— The third session of the Institute is to be opened 

 at Rome by the King of Italy during June of the 

 current year. Upwards of forty different states are represented 

 in the Institute, and the statistical, technical, and economic in- 

 formation collected is regularly published in monthly bulletins. 

 The latter appear in as many as five languages, and it is under- 

 stood that the English edition is translated by Mr. W. P. Wa'er- 

 meyer, B.A., formerly of Cape Town. 



