NOTES AND ABSTRACTS. 



501 



Mendelism : Colour Inhepitance in Beans. By E. A. Emerson 

 [U.S.A. Eccp. Stn. Nebraska, 22nd Ann. Rep. pp. 67-101; with 2 figs. ; 

 IQQ^y—The paper describes experiments in crossing varieties of me 

 common bean [Phaseolus vulgaris) in order to determine whether there 

 are any definite principles controlHng inheritance of colour. The pre- 

 sence of pigment was always found to be dominant. Totally pigmented 

 individuals, when crossed with partially pigmented, resulted in (F 1) 

 all totally pigmented, (F 2) 64 totally and 30 partially pigmented. In 

 F 3 the numbers were 236 (totally) and 107 (partially). Crosses of 

 partially pigmented and white beans gave in F 1 12 totally pigmented ; 

 in F 2 14 totally, 10 partially, and 16 not pigmented. Ten white- 

 seeded plants in F 2 produced 50 plants, all with white seeds. 



Crosses of mottled and self-coloured beans gave in the first genera- 

 tion all mottled; in the second generation, 331 mottled and 124 self- 

 coloured. Self-coloured crossed with white beans gave in first genera- 

 lion 65 mottled and 1 self-coloured (4 self-coloured considered to be 

 accidental); in the second generation there were 113 mottled, 52 self- 

 coloured, and 70 white. 



IMottled beans crossed with white were, in first generation, all 

 mottled; in second generation, 115 mottled, 2 self-coloured, and 4L 

 white. 



Th/re is a full discussion of possible theories which might explain 

 these results, and which will be of great interest to Mendelians. 



G. F. S.'E. 



Molasses, Observations on. By H. A. Tempany {West Indian 

 Bull. vol. X. No. 2, pp. 130-142; 1909).— Molasses, when kept, under- 

 t^oes two changes — frothing and souring — both due to fermentation. 



Frothing is not caused by the action of organisms, but by the 

 decomposition of gummy substances (glucinates) formed by the action 

 of lime and glucose, which break down with evolution of gas. 



As to souring, which is due to organisms, it would seem that 

 vacuum-pan molasses, though prepared under more scientific con- 

 ditions, has a greater tendency to ferment than that obtained by the 

 muscovado process. It is possible that there are present in the latter 

 obscure bodies exercising an inhibitive influence. — C. H. Tj. 



Monstrosities, Horticultural. By E. Eouhaud, P. Parry, and 

 E. Gadeceau {Le Jard., vol. xxiv.. No. 552, p. 56; Feb. 20, 1910, with 

 4 figs.). 



1. Syncarpous Apples. These result from the development of twin 

 flowers upon a single peduncle. \ hough rare in apples, this is not 

 seldom the case in the Amygdalaceae. Certain plums exhibit this 

 teratological variation almost every year. 



2. Abnormal Kaki fruits. The fruit of Diospyros Kaki is freely 

 eaten in Japan, the principal varieties being cosfata and Mazeli. The 

 latter ripens in France, and has a pleasant flavour of apricot. The 

 abnormal fruits figured in the article exhibit mesocarpal horn-shaped 



