464 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCiETi. 



effect of the second male nucleus has never extended to maternal 

 tissue. 



The work of Webber is discussed and the suggestion made that, 

 such cases as he brought forward may possibly be cases of Mendelian 

 segregation in the somatic tissues, analogous to bad sports. A great 

 deal of interesting evidence is offered of Xenia (in the modern sense), 

 and the following law is formulated : — 



When two races differ in a single visible endosperm character 

 in which dominance is com^plete, Xenia occurs only when the domi 

 nant parent is the male; when they differ in a single visible endosperm 

 character in ivhich dominance is incomplete or in two characters both 

 of which are necessary for the development of the visible difference^ 

 Xenia occurs when cilher is the male/' 



Podded and Podlcss Maize. — This is a case of great interest. The' 

 ordinary maize has the seeds naked, and when crossed with a variety 

 with podded seeds the podding is dominant and the variation no more 

 than seen in the pure podded parent. 



The segregation was entirely discontinuous and extracted recessives 

 pure. 



Pericarp Colours. — The evidence on this point is not yet complete 

 and interesting work on the localization of the pigment is in progress 



Physical Transformations of Starchiness. — Although presence anc 

 absence of starchiness behaves as a Mendelian character, the physica 

 condition of the starch behaves as a plant character affecting the whol( 

 ear. 



hill erita lice of Size. — The difficulties of this work are fully realized 

 and the authors content themselves with the statement that thei.j 

 results show segregation in every case. i * 



Abnormal Forms. — Some interesting abnormalities are recorded! *2 

 such as dwarfs, bifurcated ears, ears with lateral branches, and theii ^ 

 inheritance described. I '^'^ 



It is impossible to give more than an imperfect account of thij 

 important work, which must be studied in its entirety to be justlj 

 appreciated. — E. A. Bd. 



'ii 



IP' 



Insects, Useful. By P. Lesne {Rev. Hort., Jan. 16, 1911, p*'t« 



o4-36, coloured plate; also Eev. Hort., Feb. 1, 1911, pp. 58-6 

 coloured plate). — Two very interesting articles describing and portra; 

 ing a number of beetles and other carnivorous insects which are 

 value to the horticulturist as destroyers of insects inimical to plants' ^^ci 

 many of such practical friends being ignorantly destroyed, owing tj 

 non-recognition of their true character. The illustrations give a ve 

 clear idea of their appearance in both the larval and perfect formj -'^k 

 natural size and enlarged. — C. T. D. ! '-^0 



:,ol 



Irrigation Problems. By J. A. ^Yidtsoe {U.S.A. Dep. Agr., Ojj aeei 

 Exp. Stn., Bull. 228, Aug. 1910; pp. 112-117).— The relation of soi| 

 to the proper use of irrigation water is a subject greatly in want (i o^. 



