814 THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Sept. 



not be one-tentli so marvellous and important as the facts which 

 showed that the creatures that lived in the old chalk age had theif 

 posterity and exact counterparts still living. The Professor 

 observed that the discoveries made showed that there was a 

 gigantic network of a jelly-like life encircling the globe. 



Dr. Hooker also stated that Professor Forbes's hypothesis had 

 never been accepted by scientific men. Dr. Percival Wright made 

 some observations on soundings. Mr. Norman wished to guard 

 the Association against supposing that deep sea soundings were 

 recent. It was the dredging only which was recent. 



ON THE LAW OF DEVELOPEMENT OF CEREALS: BY MR. P. F. 

 HALLET, OP BRIGHTON. 



Mr. Hallet's experience showed him several years ago that 

 corn, and especially wheat, was injured by being planted too 

 closely. He found a wheat plant would increase above the 

 ground in proportion as its roots had room to develope, and that 

 the roots might be hindered by being in contact with the roots of 

 another plant. Mr. Hallet continued a series of experiments, 

 planting one grain of wheat only, and succeeded so w-^ll in 

 improving the method of cultivation as to raise wheat, whose ears 

 contained 123 grains, or more than 60 on each side. In the 

 course of his investigations, Mr. Hallet made other discoveries 

 with regard to the growth of cereals which he suras up as 

 follows: — " 1. Every fully developed plant, whether of wheat, 

 oats, or barley, presents an ear superior in productive power 

 to any of the rest on that plant. 2. Every such plant contains 

 one grain, which, upon trial, proves more productive than any 

 other. 3. The best grain in a given plant is found in its best 

 ear. 4. The superior vigour of this grain is transmissible in 

 diflFerent degrees to its progeny. 5. By repeated careful ' selec. 

 tion ' the superiority is accumulated. 6. The improvement 

 which is first raised gradually, after a long series of years is 

 diminished in amount, and eventually so far arrested that, 

 practically speaking, a limit to improvement in the desired 

 quality is reached. 7. By still continuing to select, the improve- 

 ment is maintained, and practically a fixed type is the result." 

 In the discussion which ensued, Mr. Hallet was warmly com- 

 plimented upon the results he bad attained, and the gigantic ears 

 of wheat which he exhibited were examined with the greatest 

 interest by those in the room. 



