1. The stomatal index and the stomatal aperture of cabbage laves increased in the order of 60%, 40%, 80%, 20% and 100% plots for the saturation of the soil water. The maximum dimensions of the daily stomatal aperture were shown between 10 a. m. and 2 p. m. in all plots, but the opening hours of the stomata was prolonged in the same order as above. 2. Osmotic values of the cell sap in the leaves measured by means of the plasmolytic method, and the transpiration rate experimented by the cobalt chloride method, and the assimilation rate measured by the leaf punch method were also shown in the same order mentioned above. And osmotic values were higher at night and in the forenoon than at daylight and in the afternoon. The amount of the water lost by transpiration was less at night than at daylight. From above results we emphasize that the transpiration and the assimilation ratio and osmotic values of cabbage were closely related to the stomatal index and its daily aperture were subjected to various soil moisture.

View full abstract

(1) Apparatus for measuring respiration. In order to measure the respiration several procedures for measuring carbon-dioxide exchange between plant and air have been employed, such as volumetric, gasometric, gravimetric and electrometric, etc. All of these methods have left much to be desired either of convenience or accuracy. Of all methods the electrometric, particularly, the electro-conductivity method, is the most advanced one as concerned with the principle and the method of measuring itself. So that we attempted to construct a convenient and acurate apparatus by employing the electroconductivity method (Fig. 1). (1) Aspirator : Using three injector tubes as pistons which may be operated by means of a motor, we can force out a constant stream of air-flow of about 5∼50 litres per hour (Fig. 2). The Amount of air-flow may be adjusted by the velocity of rotation of the motor. (2) Air-flow thus forced out goes through the carbon-dioxide free air is introduced into the respiration-chamber, in which the plants are growing. (3) Respiration-chamber : Special device is given for the shape of respiration-chamber (Fig. 3). Amount of transpiration is easily measured by weighing, and even under the condition of over-saturated soil moisture content it may be also easily measured by the use of an attachment. During the measurement, respiration-chamber is kept in the water of bath of constant temperature. (4) Measuring carbon-dioxide amount by electro-conductance of the equivalent sodium carbonate solution, conductivity of the absorbent (sodium hydroxide solution) is measured using golden electrodes before and after the carbon-dioxide absorption occurs, and the difference due to the formation of sodium carbonate caused by the carbon-dioxide absorption is represented by the indicator-needle of the ammeter. (2) Effect of excessive soil moisture on the respiration. Wheat, barley (hulled and hull-less variety), soybean and rice seedlings were grown by sand-culture with modified "Knop's solution", and as they grow to some extent, half pots of each crops were treated with the excessive supply of water to the sand-bed. The influence of excessive water condition, thus given to the root part, on the respiration rates and other physiological activity of the top part was studied. (1) Soon after the plants are treated with excessive moisture supply, respiration rate of the top part of the plants shows marked response, i. e. within at least 3 hours after treatment the respiration is reduced to about 50∼40% of that of control plant (Fig. 4). On the other hand there are the slight decreases in soybean and rice, reducing to about 80∼90% of that of control plant (Fig. 5). (2) The reduction of respiration seems to recover gradually, but after five days the effected wheat and barley still show about 50∼70% of that of control plant, and soybean about 95%. On the contrary rice seedlings show a definite increase over control plant within at least two or three days after treatment. Thus rice seedlings show the different reaction to the excessive soil moisture content as compared with the other crops. (3) It is also found that absorption of water by roots is reduced by the treatment. Not only "passive absorption" of water but also "active absorption" is inhibited by the excessive moisture condition, and as a result plants show decreased turgor pressure and also decreased water content of the body.

View full abstract

It has been said that except in sandy soils, as h rule, an application of farmyard manure is rather dangerous to cotton in our country on account of temperature. This experiment was performed to know the influence of farmyard manure mixed with chemical fertilizers on the development of cotton fibres through the growth of cotton plants in the light volcanic ash clay' soil. According to the result of this experiment the application of farmyard manure is very available to the growth and yield of cotton, but the length, strength and uniformity of cotton fibres are not changed specially by it except decrease of elasticity. However, it should be thought that the distributions of rainfall in 1948 was, more or less, different from those of normal years.

View full abstract

The author tested the influences of stem growth, soil moisture and soil temperature upon the shedding (of both squares and bolls) in two species, asiatic (G. Arboreum var. Shisomen) and upland (G. hirsutum, var. Acala). It was found that stem growth was larger in the asiatic than in the upland at the former half of the growth period, till the middle of August. But this tendency became entirely reverse at the latter half of the growth period, when the stem growth was larger in the upland than the asiatic. The asiatic shedded, always, more in squares than the upland during the all period. As soon as the stems impaired their growth, a few of squares emerged and their shedding became larger in both species. Moreover, a few of bolls set and shedded when their growth of stems began to be impaired. Shedding of bolls was nearly parallely circumstanced with the stem elongation as described above. Then it was suggested that more bolls might shedd in the vigorous vegetative growth is both species. No influence was found upon the shedding by soil moisture and soil temperature in this experiment.

View full abstract

"Nori-Asa" (Glutinous Hemp) is an amphidiploid crop which was bred crossing Abelmoschus esculentus with Abel. Manihot. It first appeared in the F₂ generation and kept itself constant later on. The fertility of F₁∼F₁0 was studied, the number of seeds per pod having been taken as the index. The avarage fertility calculated for a number of lines of F₁, F₂ and F₃ is 6.2, 29.2 and 29.2 grains respectively, and that of F₄∼F₁0 is ca. 40 grains not showing any further increase. However, the fertility differs more or less in different lines, reaching in a line as far as 48.0 grains per pod in F₁0.

View full abstract

Myelin figures, in general, are easily formed in the cells artificially, when they are treated by solutions of alkaline, heavy metals, tannin, etc. We have, however, observed them naturaly formed in the yellowed leaves of some crop plants. In wheat, they are about the same size and apparrently the similary structure as nucleus. But, in rice plant cells, they have protuberant or ring-like typical myelin form. Myelin formation is an important mark of pathological states of protoplasm. By the occurrence of the figure, therefore, we may be able to guess a definite physico-chemical state of crop plant cells, when they suffered injury by pilz, and other bad environments.

View full abstract

In 1948, a dwarf semi-sterile rice plant was found from among a variety Ginbozu at the Faculty of Agriculture, Tokyo University. It may be a mutant from its peculiar characters. The chief characters are as follows. 1) The height of seedlings is a little shorter than normal from their short length of sheath, but late in maturity the stalks become much more shorter. The colour of leaves is darker, and near the top of blade appear remarkable wrinkles. 2) As only about one-third of spikelets produce small matured seeds and the culms are rigid, the ears stand upright at the harvest time and plants do not turn yellow. Consequently, many new branches or tillers are produced vigorously on the way to maturity even at higher nodes of culms. 3) The lowest node of a panicle seldom has lateral branches (often degenerate leaves) and seldom emerges from the sheath of boot-leaf. As the nodes in a panicle are few and the lateral branches are a little more than those of normal, each node except the lowest has more lateral branches, and the internodes are irregular in length. Arrangement of spikelets is also lacking in uniformity. 4) Flowers and seeds of normal shape are much smaller than those of normal plant, and lengthes of parts of flowers such as length of glumes, stamens are equally very short. Most flowers have relatively too small palea except a few extremely deformed ones having a longer palea than lemma, and there are various gradations of size of palea. As a result of this disproportion of size of both glumes, the hull does not close or fit tightly and sometimes remains open. 5) As anthers, pollens and pistils seem to be normel in their shape or size, sterility might chiefly be caused by the disproportion of size of glumes; during panicles are still in the sheath of boot-leaf, the anthers of flowers already disclosed are destroyed by water-drop in the sheath; after heading, the air gets in freely inside of glumes resulting in interference with the development of ovules fertilized by dryness, and often rain-drops also destroy the pollens before pollination. 6) The genetical studies of these characters are in progress.

View full abstract

1. Chemotropism of seedling roots of rice was observed in agar. 2. For ammonium ion, roots of paddy rice and upland rice showed chemotropism, but none for nitrate and several other ions. 3. Ammonium and nitrate ions diffused in agar with respective concentration gradients.

View full abstract

This report is described on the consumption process of the reserve foods in endosperms of the rice seeds during germination in relation to the growth of rice. (1) The curve of consumption of reserve foods in seeds and the growth curve were represented with S type curve. The development of plants in the foods-exhausted period was "the fourth foliage leaf and 5∼7 crown roots" stage. (2) On the comparison of the manured plots with the non-manured plots. a) The growth of the tops and the total dry matter of plants were superior in manured plots, while the growth of roots was rather inferior. b) The reserve foods in seeds were exhausted more rapidly in manured plots. c) The growth in the foods-exhausted period slowed considerably in the no-manured plots, while in manured plots the growth curve in the same period may by changed smoothly into the following independent period. (3) When the reserve foods in endosperms of seeds were removed before those foods will be exhausted, the growth on the following day was sluggish, but the growth was recovered gradually. (4) The reserve foods in seeds were exhausted more rapidly under the higher temperature of soil than under the lower temperature.

View full abstract

The present paper deals with the result of the experiments on the relation between the susceptibility of naked barley to the small rust (Puccinia simplex (Korn. ) ERIKS. et HENN.) and the powdery mildery mildew (Erysiphe graminis-hordei DC. ) and the silicification of leaves. Water culture in which the silicic acid powders are applied diminishes remarkably the infection of the uredosoruses by the small rust and of the disease spots by the powdery mildew. It seems to be resulted by the fact that the silicic acid mainly prohibits the invasion of pathogene mechanically. The same fact is recognized in the narcosis-inoculation test of leaves in naked barley, namely the immediate inoculation after narcotization gave scarcely any result in the lot in which the silicic acid was applied. When the sun light was shortoned, the infection of the powdery mildew was found to be decreased parallel to the shortage of sun light, notwithstanding that the treatment favoured the histological condition to the fungus infection making the silicification of leaves imperfect and cuticular layers thin. This interesting facts seems to have reason in the relation between the plant nutrient and the fungus growth.

View full abstract

The number of head is the most important factor in the snowy district for producing wheat and barley. And the correlation between the number of tillers at the seedling stage and the number of heads at the maturity as a varietal difference has been stated by many investigators. But the relations with the individual plants on a same Variety or the breeding strains have not yet been studied by the new method of statistics. The value of nursery selection has been examined for the purpose of saving trouble and experimental farm as a matter of breeding process. In the first the result on the fixed variety was described and in the second regarding the strains of third filial generations from dissimilar combinations of two were given. The result on the fixed variety was stated in this paper. The variety used in this study is "Norin No. 24" which is resistibility against snow damage and a type of habit having many tillers and heads, and the grad was sorted in 5 classes according to the number of tillers about the individual plants at the nursery plat, viz. the number of stems of each classes of series are as follows : 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 or 6. The relations between the number of tillers when they were transplanted from the nursery plat and the length of culm at the maturity are judged with hightly significant respectively. The relations between the number of tillers at the transplanting time and the number of heads at the maturity are resulted as follows : there are hightly or slightly significant 1 or 2 to over 3 stems, however, amongst over 3 stems obtained not significant respectively. All of the result of this study has been conducted by Fisher's method.

View full abstract

In the present experiments, we studied the poisonous actions of 2.4-D on Jerusalem Artichoke and the synergisme by means of the mixed application and the continued spread of 2.4-D and KC1O₃. The single application of 2.4-D as a spray to the foliage of the growing plant induces the following physiological changes within it. (1) The transpiration activity is accelerated soon after the application of the herbicide. (2) The assimilation intensity is reduced. (3) The cell-sap concentration, however, tends lower. (4) The vitamine C contents are much reduced. (5) The resistance to the toxic action of KClO₃ of the foliage sprayed with 2.4-D a few days before gets obviously stronger. This is ascribed to, according to Yamasaki's hypothesis on the harmful effect of KClO₃ upon the plants, that the sprayed foliage with 2.4-D is poor in reducing matters which reduce KClO₃ to KClO, the harmful substance to the plant. The mixed application as a spray of two kinds of herbicides noted above resulted in much quick killing of the plants when compared with the single application of each chemical, thus the "synergisme" being clearly demonstrated. This is partly due to, it is supposed, that 2.4-D injures the upper parts of the sprayed plants, whereas KClO₃ kills the lower parts.

View full abstract

The author has made the experiments on the cultivation of winter and spring wheat varieties, and oecological studies at Nobeyama highland in Nagano Prefecture. Winter wheats are able to cultivate economicaly, if the wheat varieties-those are as like as the Norin-39 in winterhardiness-are sown in well time, from Septmber15 to September 25, and are fertilized phosphorous manure sufficiently, and are made defence against orange rust and black-stem rust. Among the factors affecting the yields, the weight per 1000 grains is most effective, and it is inferior in highland than in lowland on account of the incomplete growth of grains caused by orange rust and black-stem rust. Spring wheat is also able to cultivate, if it is sown earlier spring and is made defence against orange rust and black-stem rust. But the yields of spring wheat are smaller than those of winter wheat. The growth of seedlings of winter wheat variaties during autumn, winter hardy varieties goes more slowly than that of nonhardy ones, and become suitable condition at winter, namely the Top and Root ratio are small. Fertilization of phosphorous manure make well growth rates of roots and make small the Top and Root ratio.

View full abstract

1. This experiment has been made to find out the main factors which induce the abnormal tuberization on potato tuber. 2. In 1st. experiment, the abnormal tuberization were obtained under the condition of darkness, ordinary temperature, dryness in soil, and darkness, ordinary temperature, moist air. 3. In 2nd. experiment, in which the sand contained 60, 10 and 5% of saturate moisture were used, only the short small buds were sprouted in the 5% moisture of sand, but abnormal tuberizetion were occured at the 10, 60% of moisture. 4. Under the condition of 10% saturate moisture, the new potato grew directry on the old pieces or on the stem just like rhizome. In the case of 60% saturate moisture, on the contrary it may be considered, as the top of buds were corrupted and could not grow further, then the new potato were formed at the axil. 5. From the results of this experiments, it could be suggested that (1) the condition of 60-10% moisture may be the causes of the abnormal tuberization of potato which showed at the end of storage and (2) the dryness of soil, about 10% of moisture may be the cause of the sprout tuber which showed at the field.

View full abstract

1. During the spring and summer of 1948, the synecological investigation was made by quadrate method on virgin soil, reclaimed land, rich farmland, and paddy-field at Kashii District (Fukuoka Prefecture). These places were composed of a strong acid soil originated from Tertiary. 2. Among these the following species grouped in (a) were abundant in strong acid soil and so might be called acid plants. While the species in (b) might be supposed as plants that were disagreeable with strong acidity of soil ; they were not as common on that soil though they were usually seen numerous in fertilized farm land as its indecator-plants: (a) Lespedeza striata H. A. Miscanthus sinensis Anderss. Melampyrum roseum Mxim. var. Japonicum Fr. etsav. Panicum sanginale L. Polygonum Blumei Meissn. Gnaphalium multiceps Wall. Alopecurus fubus Sm. Polygonum aviculare L. Monochoria vaginalis Presl. var. Plantaginea Solms. Lindernia angustifolia Wettst. Rotala indica var. Uliginosa. Eliocharis acicularis R. Br. (b) Eu phorbia pekinensis Rupr. Galium aparime L. Veronica polita Fr. Veronica peregrina L. Spirodela polyrhiza Schleid. Lemna paucicosta Hegelm 3. In order to quiken promote the maturing of the reclaimed land into rich farmland, cultivate of the following species as green manure or forage crop was advisable: Lespedeza striata H. et A. Panicum sanginale L. Arundinella anomala Steud. Pueraria Thumbergiana Benth. Cassia minoides L.

View full abstract

1) Soy bean varieties were grouped into the following three types according to the mode of change of stem length due to the seeding periods; Type I; the stem is the longest in April seeding, medium in May seeding and the shortest in June seeding. Type II; the stem is the longest in May seeding, medium in April seeding, and the shortest in June seeding. Type III; the stem is the longest in May seeding, but medium in June seeding, and the shortest in April seeding. 2) Type I and II contains respectively all types of summer-autumn growing habit, or early-late flowering habit. Summer types or early flowered varieties, however, mostly belong to Type II, and autumn types or late flowered varieties mostly belong to Type I. In type III, all varieties are summer types or early flowered varieties. 3) All varieties of "true twining type" and most varieties of "special non-twining type" belong to type III with few exception which belongs, to Type II. 4) Among those varieties used, some relationships were found between these types and geographical distributions. Moreover, summer types grown in northern regions (Manchuria, Hokkaido) are Type II and III, while those grown in southern region (Kyusyu) are Type I and II.

View full abstract

In sunflower plants, the fertilized flowers develope generally into matured grains, but when the migration of nutriment into the fruits is not enough, some of them are blasted at the early stage of seed-formation (blasted grains). Some of the unfertile lowers are blasted immediately (sterile grains), but another vigorous flowers develope into parthenocarpic grains. Therefore, the fruiting ability will be able to be indicated with the relation between the number of fertilized grains and the number of flowers (fertilizing percentage), the rate of the blasted grains to fertilized grains in number (blasted percentage), the relation between the number of parthenocarpic grains and the one of unfertile grains (parthenocarpic percentage), and the average weight of the matured grains. (1) The flower disk was divided into outer, middle and inner parts, and the fruiting ability of each part was compared respectively. The tubular flowers on the outer part opened earlier and were more vigorous than those of the middle or inner part, therefore the unfertile percentage and the brasting percentage were lowest at the outer part and highest at the inner part. On the contrary, the parthenocarpic percentage was highest at the outer part and lowest at the inner part. The average weight of the matured grains was generally lightest at the inner part. (2) When some of the tubular flowers on the outer part were picked off at the flowering time, the remaining flowers became vigorous and the fruiting ability of those was invigorated, and the average weight of matured grains became heavy, then these influences were more remarkable in the inner flowers. (3) There was no remarkable difference in the growth habit of the sunflower plants at Nobeyama highland and Tokyo. Nevertheless, the blasted grains were considerably numerous and the average weight of the matured grains was smaller at highland. These may be due to the low temperature at the maturing stage in highland.

View full abstract

1. In soy bean, the nodule bacteria do not transform their shape during the stage of bacteroid, and always remain in rod-form. Sometimes, in the stage of bacteria are found to unite into small spherical groups each of which contains 1O or more bacteria. 2. As the result of infection, the cells of bacteroidal tissue show hypertrophy and become 2∼3 times larger in diameter. 3. As roughly estimated, each bacteroidal cell containes 20, 000∼60, 000 bacteria. 4. A conspicuous layer of sclerenchyma cells develop in the cortical parenchyma between the epidermis and the bacteroidal tissue of the soy bean nodule. This layer of sclerenchyma cells may protect the nodule from external invaders such as injurious insects or microbes, and at the same time it may also terminate the hypertrophy of the cells of bacteroidal tissue.

View full abstract

1. The nodule bacteria of azuki bean are rod-shaped and remain unchanged during the stage of bacteroid. Sometimes, during the stage of bacteroid 10 or more bacteria unite together forming a small spherical group. 2. The numbers of bacteria contained in a cell of bacteroidal tissue are 20, 000∼40, 000 in round figures. 3. Sometimes, a sylindrical cell is found in a layer of cells in the nodule cortex. The sylindrical cell may protect the nodule from external invaders and at the same time terminate the hypertrophy of the cells of bacteroidal tissue. 4. The nodule bacteria usually enters the host plant through the root hairs and according to this investigation the spead of infection is as follows; No. of bacteria found in root hairs (Average)[table]

View full abstract

Summer weeds in the field of Tochigi-Ken (districts) were generally surveied in 1949. In this districts we found that summer weeds had 106 kinds. The results of servey are summarized as follows ; [table] Digitaria ciliaris PERS. maybe from this table assumed absolutely predominant in this districts in summer season.

View full abstract

1. In this ecological studies, the close relations among the crabgrass and several crops were observed in the upland field. 2. Branched ears of the crabgrass (dominant species) were correlated to numbers of its seed. 3. Falled seeds of this weed were found 218.2 in ten square centimeters after the sweet-potatoes were harvested. On the other hand, the seedlings of the crabgrass were reckoned 22.4 in average of twenty plots on which wheat plants were cultivated, and 33.3 on the none crop field. 4. Yields of the upland rice and the sweet-potato were badly influenced by the crabgrass. The wheat, however, was suffered little or nothing.

View full abstract

Buckwheat flowers are dimorphous, and cross-pollination by means of heterostyly is ensured, and it is generally acknowledged that legitimate pollination is effective and illegitimate pollination and self-pollination are less effective. Usually speaking, a buckwheat plant has hundreds of flowers, but only ten or thirty per cent of those develope into matured grains, and another flowers fail to be fertilized or blast at the early stage of maturation. The present studies were carried out on the fruiting ability of flowers according to the location on inflorescense, and fruiting ability was indicated by fertilizing percentage and brasting percentage. (1) Buckwheat plant has 1-5 primary branches, those have several secondary branches, and each seondary branch has several flower bunches. (Ref. Fig. 1) (2) There is no remarkable difference in fruiting ability among primary branches, but mean flowering date of the flowers is a little earlier and fruiting ability is a little higher in upper branch than in lower branch. (3) Among the secondary branches on a primary branch, there was the evident difference, and the fifth or sixth secondary branch was earliest in average flowering date and most vigorous in fruiting ability. (4) Among the flower bunches on a secondary branch, fruiting ability was most vigorous and average flowering date was earliest in lowest bunch. (5) Among the flowers of a branch, the flowering date of the flower was earlier, the fruiting ability more vigorous.

View full abstract

The following experiments were made at Tokyo University Farm in 1948 and 1949. For the experimentation one variety of Japanese species was used. Sugar concentration of the juice was estimated by the sugar hand-refractometer, and for crushing the stalks the small compressor of vermicelli was used. EXPERIMENT I : (See Fig. I) Change in the Sugar Concentration of the Juice in the Stalks of Sugar Sorghum after the Heading Time. The best time for cutting and crushing the stalks of sugar sorghum has not been clearly known. It has been differently said either to be in the milk-ripe stage, or in the dead-ripe stage, or in the middle of the two. Experiment No. I. was carried out in order to know clearly about the harvesting time. The result follows : The sugar concentration was the highest from the fifth week to the tenth week after the heading, in other words, between the red-ripe stage (which corresponds to the yellow-ripe stage of wheat) and the dead-ripe stage. The concentration was not so high either in earlier or later period than that. In the earlier period the concentration was low, and in the later period there was a change in the quality of the juice. On the other hand, the amount of the deprived juice was almost same from the heading time to the matured time. The percentage of the weight of the deprived juice to that of the raw stalk was 65∼75% on the average. It is rare in the plant world that the amount of the juice does not decrease long time after the plant was decayed. Therefore, in deciding the time for cutting sugar sorghum, it is not necessary for us to be worried about the amount of juice to be obtained. After all, the cutting time is any day between the fifth and tenth week after the heading. EXPERIMENT II : (See Fig. II) The Effect of the Seeding time on the Concentration of Juice. In 1948 the writer found that there was a difference in the concentration of juice according to the heading time. (Of course, all plants were sown at the same time) The concentration of juice was higher in those that headed later than these that headed earlier, but the latter grew better than the former. Accordingly, in 1949 in order to put off the heading time without impairing the growth of the plant, the seeds were sown as late as possible. The writer compared the concentration of juice of those that were sown late to head later with that of those that were sown early to head earlier. He found the concentration of juice in the former was higher than the later, so long as there was no difference between the two in growth and that there was no difference between the two groups of the plants concerning the amount of juice contained in a plant. EXPERIMEMT III : (See Fig. III) The Effect of the Sowing Density upon the Sugar Concentration of Juice. This experiment was done in order to learn the difference of the concentration of juice between the stalks planted thinly and those planted thickly. The sugar concentration was higher in the latter than in the former group. In this experiment again the difference in the amount of juice obtained from a plant was so little that it could be ignored entirely. Nor were these differences between the amount of the Juice obtained from sugar sorghum of the said two groups per one tan (about one-forth acre).

View full abstract

Author previously reported a conclusion that, in representative Asiatic and upland varieties which were cultivated in Eastern Asia, fibers on the cotton seed continued to form from epidermal cells for a period of 12 or 13 days after the date of flowering, and again two periods of protuberance were recognized n the period mentioned above, i. e. the first was from the time of flowering to 2 or 3 days, and the second from 4 or 5 days to 12 or 13 days, after the day of flowering. The object of this study was to investigate more the second period and to discuss the fact in LANG's hypothesis, that the fuzz hairs began to develope only after the lint pattern had been completely established. Materials used in this study were five Asiatic and three upland varieties, and observations were made on a middle longitudinal section by means of the paraffin method. The results were summarized as follows : 1. In regard to the protuberances of epidermal cells in the second period, it was found no remarkable varietal difference among seven Asiatic and upland varieties, the Zairaikurodane variety being a exception (Fig. 1, 2). The appearances of protuberances in this period was found in a period between 4 and 13 days after the day of flowering, with maximum number on the seventh day, and fibers nearest the chalazal end of ovule were the first to protuberate, while these toward the micropylar end arose gradually later. 2. The Zairaikurodane variety (a strain of Asiatic cotton) with fuzz hairs restricted only upon specific area of the micropylar end of mature seed, indicated very different appearances of protuberances as compared with other varieties. In this variety, the number of protuberated cells in this period were very few and these were restricted around the micropylar end. 3. Protuberated cells in the second period were recognized only in fertilized ovules, but these could never be found in un-fertilized ovelus in which fertilization had been prevented by the removal of the anther before flower opening, and even in the case with treatment of growth-hormone spraying on stigma of emasculated flower. This fact in this study was a contrary result, as compared with the author's previous result that the fertilization had no effect on the protuberance of cell in the first period. 4. As number of protuberated cells increased gradually after the fourth day (Fig, 5, 6), a fiber layer was formed after the eleventh day in consequence of adjoining of protuberated cells (Fig. 7), and in this stage it was obviously possible to distinguish the fiber layer of long hairs protuberated in the first period, and that of short hairs in the second period. Considering this result and the appearances of protuberances of Zairaikurodane variety above mentioned, the author could emphasize again his opinion that the lint hairs would develope from hairs formed in the first period, and the fuzz hairs would originate in the second period.

View full abstract

The variety of rape, Norin No. 5 (Brassica napus) was used for the study on the rate of development of seeds, pods and oil. Plants were grown on pots in a glass-house after seedling period in seed-bed. Each pod was tagged at the flowering time and samples Collected at 5 days intervals during the period of seed development. Length and width of pods or seeds grew rapidly during the early period of seed development, and reached a maximum size at 25∼30 days after flowering time. Increase of dry and green weight of pods indicated the maximum at 40 days after flowering time, but weight of seeds continued to increase until 55 days after flowering time. Oil percentage of seeds (based on dry weight) ceased to increase before dry weight of seeds reached the maximum. But the total weight of oil per 1000 dry seeds indicated the continuous increase until the dry weight of seeds reached the maximum. The iodine value and refractive index of extracted oil decreased as the seed developed, and began to increase after total oil deposited.

View full abstract

The investigation of the effect on growth and yield of soybean by soil moistures, 90∼100%, 65∼75%, 35∼45%, at the second period of growth or maturation period, was investigated in 1948. The applied soybean variety was Norin No.1 and the investigation was investigated by pots. Soil moisture contents were kept in 50∼60% similarly from the seeding period, and the soil moisture contents above described were kept since three days ago from the flowering period given, and were kept up to the yield period. The results were observed that the dry matter of top in air were in order 65∼75% plot>35∼45% plot>90∼100% plot, and that of root were 65∼75% plot>90∼100% plot>35∼45% plot. 65∼75% plot was largest on the dry matter of top and root in air. Top-root ratio were in order 35∼45% plot>65∼75% plot>90∼100% plot. The development of roots on 65∼75% plot was particularly poor. As the stem weight and the diameter of stem base, 65∼75% plot was largest and 35∼45% plot was the smallest. Soil moisture content was the smaller, number of vascular bunlle of stem was the larger. As number of pod and weight of it per plant and weight of seed, 65∼75% plot>35∼45% plot>90∼100% plot. Oil content of seed was in order 90∼100% plot>65∼75% plot>35∼45% plot, and protein content of seed was opposite. From the view-point of the result of investigation, it seems that most sutable soil moisture content to growth of soybean at the second period of growth and maturation period is about 65∼75%. As oil and protein content of seed, 65∼75% plot is in second order, but the differentiation from the other two plots is comparatively small, and from the view-point of the yield of these composition, too, about 65∼75% soil moisture content is most sutable.

View full abstract

1. 20 varieties of soybean were sown in green house and field of Tokyo Agricaltural Experiment Station. Sowing times were May 4, May 24 and June 13 in the field and May 24 in the green house. The maximum and minimum temperature of the field, green house and their differences are shown in Table I. 2. For the purpose of determining the ecotypes of soybean varieties, the dates of first blossoms and the times from sowing to the first blossoms of the field and the green house are compared in Table II. 3. The times from sowing to first blossoms of 2 varieties (Okumame and Kanagawa Kosamame) were not shortened by the high temperature of the green house. They were completely controled by the day length, so they are the typical short-day type (so-called autumn type). 4. Independent type (so-called summer type) were not detected. They must be determined by other methods which will be reported in near future.

View full abstract

Five varieties including three types of summer vers. autumn growing habit (summer, intermediate and autumn types) and two types of twining habit (true twining and special non-twining types) were used. The effects of pinching the terminal bud retaining four compound leaves were examined and the following facts were found. 1. In most varieties, the pinching operation inhibited the growth of plants, but in some varieties it slightly increased the seed yield. 2. The effect of pinching showed some varietal differences as follows; a. The degree of inhibition of growth by pinching were large in the summer type, small in the autumn type and medium in the intermediate type, while the degree of increase of yield by pinching was quite reversed to the degree of inhibition above mentioned. b. In the two twining types the pinching severely inhibited the growth and decreased the seed yield. With the autumn type the effect of pinching expressed in the growth of top and root of plants was observed at the several periods of growth, and were found the following facts: 1. The pinching inhibited the growth of top and root expressed in both fresh and dry weight. 2. The above effect of pinching appeared in the growth were gradually recovered with the advance of growth.

View full abstract

To weigh the specific gravity of potato tuber for the small samples by using two balances, the REIMANN's and the MOHR's, it is performed some experiments and discussions. a) In using the KAWAKAMI's improved REIMANN balance, there was no significant difference on the coefficient of variation (=C. V. ) concerned with the specific gravity of potato tuber by decreasing each sampling weight to 500gr. from 2, 500gr., but in the case that decreased to 200gr., it was obtained a very high C. V., xc.v.=8.9% in spite of the former is such xc.v.=3.2, 3.6, 4.0, 3.7 and 3.8% in each sampling weight as 2.5, 2.0, 1.5, 1.0 and 0.5kg., therefore the minimum limit of sampling weight is laid between 500gr. and 200gr. b) By the mechanical discussion of the specific gravity in relation to the scale of improved REIMANN balance and its sampling weights, I found that the result, as above mentioned, is caused from the mutual relation between the deviation in the specific gravity of tubers and the scale of this balance. The variance was approximately the same, 1.8 for between tuber size, and 1.1 for experimental error. c) So as to weigh the smaller sample weight than 500 gr., I explained the usage of the MOHR balance for weighing to the potato tuber's specific gravity, and obtained the rresult that the correlation coefficient (=r) between the MOHR's and REIMANN's balance was 0.98 and 0.87 with the confidence degree 99%.

View full abstract

The seed sweet potatoes were soaked in the 80% solution of H₂SO₄ or in the 30% solution of HCl for 15 or 3O seconds. Injured sweet potatoes were also treated by the same method as above mentioned. Then they were set on seed-bed to compare the sprouting ability. The results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. The sprouting ability of sweet potatoes was invigorated and the growth of buds and roots was accelerated by the acid-treatment. Nevertheless, in some varieties, number of buds per a potato decreased and the position of sprouted buds on the potato was removed from the apical portion to the basal portion. 2. Suger contents of treated seed potatoes increased more rapidly while a few days after setting on bed. 3. The rot of the injured potatoes was prevented by the acid-treatment and the sprouting ability of them was pretty vigorous. 4. By these facts, it may be suggested that the formation of growth substances as traumachic acid will be accelerated and the activity of enzyme will be invigorated by the acid treatment.

View full abstract

The strains used in this study are of two types (=combinations), viz. the one type has many tillering habit and the other few. All of the strains are tested of F₃ plants of these two combinations. The relations between the variances of the number of tillers and ears and the hereditary variance on these materials have been studied. The hereditary variance are more extensive in the many tillering strains than in the few ones, but on either strain the relations between the number of tillers at the transplanting time and the number of heads at the maturity are almost same as on the fixed variety, viz. the said relations have hightly or slightly significant on one stem plot or two stems plot compared with over three stems ones, but not amongst over three stems plots respectively. In the case of the strains obtained by the combination of the few tillering habit varieties, the difference of the number of heads is significant between on stem plot and two stems one on the nursery bed. In short, it has been ascertained that the nursery selection by means of the number of tillers may be performs within the limit of over three stems being tillered provided that the maximum of tiller's number are five or six stems having appeared.

View full abstract

1. I experimented to see how various amounts of nitrogenous manure gave the react upon the growth, yeild and component of the sweet potato provided with constant amount of phosphatic manure and potassium manure respectively, in sweet potato cultivation. 2. I found that the reaction of nitrogenous manure was scarce when sweet potatoes were gathered in early, but the later they were gathered in, the more remarkable was the reaction. 3. The growth of the sweet potato after August was not that of elongation but was that of corpulent. 4. It seemed that carbohydrate and protein made through assimilation in leaves were accumulated in the sweet potato mainly growing in its corpulent, in the later period of its growth. 5. When much nitrogenous manure had been given, the potato contained more starch and less glucose as its components. The amount of crude protein was also abundant in this case.

View full abstract

Several experiments were carried out on the relation between the sun light shortening and the damage caused by diseases of naked barley. The treatment was recognized to diminish the infection by the powdery mildew disease of naked barley, in spite of the favourable histological conditions for the fungus infection such as the imperfect silicification of leaves, the thinness of cuticular layers and insufficient development of cellulose. The fact seemed to be resulted by the consequence that the fungus growth was prohibited by the defect of nutrient substances in the host plant. The sun light shortening, in general, diminishes the living functions as carbon assimilation, causes lodging and results ultimately the remarkable decline of yield.

View full abstract

1. In a floret of barley there are three anthers. 0ne of them is located at the side of outer glume while the other two are located at the side of inner glume (fig. I). The former is herewith called the first anther and the latter are called the second and the third anther respectively. 2. The first anther is characterized by the angle made between the lower ends of one-side locules and opposite-side ones at the attaching point of anther filament. This angle is called by the auther an anther's angle. The first anther's angle is, in many cases, remarkably greater than those of other two (fig. II). Meantime, no difference is recognized between the anther's angle of the other two. 3. The first anther is not only peculiar in the above-mentioned morphologycal point, but is also functionally inferior to the other two, showing the less diameter of pollen grains as well as delayed and smaller splitting of anther. 4. The first anther's angle in each bred line of a variety "Moravia" shows a positive significant correlation with the percentage of sterility of floret in them. Still more, when the ear is divided into three parts of upper, middle and lower, the angles of first anther in the upper part is greater than those in the remained two parts, in correspondence with the occurrence of sterility of floret that is also higher in the upper part than in the others. Within a plant, the first anther of the longest culm, that is usually consisted of main culm, is provided with a smaller angle than those of the shorter culm. 5. In view of those points, it is suggested that the first anther's angle might have a close correlation with the sterility of floret directly or indirectly.

View full abstract

It has been ascertained by experiments that the spraying of the leaves and stems of wheat seedlings with the solution of hot-spring mud and water had a marked effect on the development of the roots. The solution was made by mixing 10 g. of hot-spring mud with 100c.c. of water and then putting the mixture into a glass-bottle whose capacity is 25Oc.c., with its mouth being tightly corked and the mixture being let alone for a month at the temperature of 25°C., and for this experiment only the clear liquid part which gathered on the top of the mixture was used. This clear liquid part of the mixture proved to have the same effect on the etiolated leaves of wheat. The increase in the weight of roots is chiefly due to the branching off of more roots. The writer says that this phenomenon is due to the radioactivity of the said hot-spring mud.

View full abstract

Introduction. Scientific factors important for the increase of Japanese farm crops. Preliminary discussion. Improvement of agric. machinery & instruments helps more the farm works chiefly. So it makes the decrease of the cost of the production of the farm crops. Because, Japanese Agricultural machinery & instrumeuts are very primitive. (1) Improved farm machinery helps the increase of the yields and quality of crops. (2) Improved f. machinary decreases not only, the wages, but also can increases the cultivatable acreages of farm crops by their high efficiency. (3) The efficiency of one farmer in Japan is very low, in spite of the very high rate of the popuration. (4) Necessity of permaneat inhabitance, with high efficient farm machinery, of inland settlements, to Hokkaido, or to North-eastern districts (Tohoku Chiho) from high populated districts is very large. (5) Necessity of improvements of irrigation, drainage and reclamationworks. And although water pools with dams, raising of electricity by water power. (6) Giving profession or buisiness to many peoples, as the appendexiable works. (7) Development of civil or scientific works, e. g. electric seed nursery in upland and paddy rice fields. Main discourse. Agronomical examples of the suitable actions in every good suitable seasons; suitable agricultural machinery. (8) Good season on the Middle & North districts in Japan proper for the sowing time of winter wheat and barley is Oct. and early Nov. The delay of seeding work checks heavily the increase of these crops. (9) In economical (commercial) agriculture, the good time on the middle & north districts in Japan proper for the transplanting of rice is June and early Jnly. The delay of the transplanting work checks heavily, the increase of these crops too. (10) In common fields, the good time on the north and Kwanto districts in Japan, for the planting of sweet potato is the 3 months before middle of July. This crop and rice want frostless season. Hence, small machinery for sweet potato digging (plows) and the Vinecutting are very necessary, and the investigations of these machinery are advancing in Japan, now. (11) The harvesting times of rice, wheat and barley are very busy. The delay of harvesting works checks the increase of these crops. Hence, some small harvesting machinery, such as reaper or combine, are wanted now in Japan. Therefore, many designs and patents for these are advancing now. (12) Recently, some agric-drugs or medical compounds (pharmacy) such as D.D.T. or 2.4-D are in application in Japan, also. This fact is an advance of Japanese agriculture, for the controlings of insects & diseases or weeds. But, the speedy dusting or spraying are very necessary. Therefore, the very good dusters, the fog-machinery and the motors of these are wanted. We are very glad to say we know some good machinery for these purposes in Japan, now. (13) Some special cultivators for paddy rice fields are necessary in Japan. And we know some good kinds of these implements pulled by some domestic animals, e.g.horse or cattle. We know 2-4.D. which is weed killing drug. But, the special cultivator (Suiden chikuryoku josoki) acts not only weed killing action, but also inter cultivating action, of caurse. (14) The small cultivators for upland field are very necessary for Japanese farms. Which acts intercultivation, weedkilling, mulching, and the principles of dry-farming. (15) Plows and harrows in small size are very necessary for Japanese farmers, also. (16) Recently, the developments of small threshing machines & milling plants are very wanderful in Japan, too, because they have industrial habits. (17) Some small dryers and electric dryers for grains are very important in Japan. Because, the climatic conditions in this country, especially East and North & Eastern districts (Hokuriku, Tohoku & Hokkaido) are very wet (High humidity). Conclusion. Applications of the scientific investigations of the members of t

View full abstract