Butterbur is a dioecious perennial vegetable. In this paper are presented the results of observations on the sex expression and secondary sex characters of the cultivated and wild butterburs collected from various localities of Japan.
1. In female plants, a head is composed of 20_??_100 female florets and several sterile ones. The sterile florets are found in the center of a head, and have a pistil and shriveled anthers, but never produce pollen nor seeds. The female florets are fertile and produce seeds. (Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 8)
In male plants, a head is composed of fewer number (15_??_55) of morphologically hermaphroditic florets. The floret has a pistil and anthers which produce viable pollen, but never set seed even when artificially pollinated; so it is functionally a male floret. (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7)
Monoecious plants which have female and male florets in the same head were scarecely found; only one plant was found among wild butterburs observed.
2. Sex ratio was approximately 1:1 in wild butterburs, and also in the seedlings of wild butter-burs (Table 2). In the cultivated varieties, how-ever, female plants were predominating in number; no male plants were found in the fields of “Aichi-wasebuki” in various localities, and 70_??_100 percent of the plants were female in the fields of “Mizubu-ki” and cultivated strains of “Akitabuki” (Table 3).
3. It was found that there were no differences in time of sprouting, time of flowering (Fig. 11), growth habit, size of leaves, etc. between female and male plants.
4. The sex of butterburs is a stable character and is not affected by age of stock, nutritional conditions and other factors.
5. The reason why female plants were predominating in the cultivated varieties was discuss-ed. It is assumed that more female plants have been introduced accidentally to cultivation, but this problem will be discussed further in the succeed-ing papers.

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In this paper, the mechanism and mode of the tillering of Chinese leek were studied using var. “Oba-Nira” under natural conditions.
1. The mechanism of the tillering of Chinese leek is similar to that of the welsh onion with the exception of the following single point mentioned in 2.
2. The 1st and 2nd leaves of the tiller are usually formed on the phyllotaxy plane of the mother plant, however the 3rd and subsequent leaves are not formed on this plane. Soon after the commencement of tillering bud formation, the phyllotaxy plane of the mother plant changes its direction unmethodically. Namely, while the phyllotaxy planes of tiller and mother plant are on the same plane at first, later they become separated from each other.
3. In a plant which has fully developed in tillerings, the tillers are arranged in a circle or elliptical group. In this case, there is no rule as to the arrangement of these tillers.
4. The indications of flower bud differentiation are quite similar to those of the welsh onion. The initial stages of involucre formation becomes discernible in middle June, and flower cluster development progresses rapidly until the flowers commence to bloom in early or middle August.
Soon after the beginning of involucre formation, a new vegetative axillary bud is formed at the base of the primordium of the flower cluster stalk. This bud developes in parallel with the flower cluster and grows into a perfectly developed mature plant.
5. Under natural conditions, the first tiller of seedling appeared at the 6th or 7th node of the main plant, and the percentage of appearance at the 6th node was 71.4 and that at the 7 th node was 28.6. Most of the 2nd and subsequent tillers appeared at the 1st, 2nd or 3rd node after the preceding tiller had occurred, and the frequency of appearance at the 2nd node was the highest.
6. The average number of tillers coming from a seedling in a growing season was 23.6, and that of differentiated leaves was 150.5.
7. At times, the development of a tillering bud was so slow that the tiller appeared from the leaf sheath of preceding node too late to be normal. These abnormal tillerings were frequently observed in the late stage of the growing season. No examples of other types of abnormal tillerings were observed in Chinese leek.

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It has already been reported by the authors that the seeds of Kintoki-carrot showed delayed germi-nation. In 1959 the authors testing the ether and ethanol extracts of every part of carrot seeds, predicted the presence of germination inhibitors in all parts of them.
In further studies, the authors could success-fully isolate an inhibitor in a crystalline form the activity of which is sufficient to elucidate the cause of low germination rate of carrot seeds. The results ofthe experiments and the properties of this substance are as follows:.
1. Ground powder of dry seeds of Kintoki-carrot was extracted successively with ether, ethanol and hot water. The inhibitory activity was found in all fractions, andthe ether soluble fraction was the most active among them.
2. Ether solution of the ether, extract was shaken with dilute H₂SO₄, and then with N NaOH. The neutral fraction of the ether solution was placed at 5°C for 3 days, and a large amount of a white crystalline substance was formed. After the crystals were removed by filtration, the solvent was eva-porated from the filtrate to obtain an oil. The oil was placed on a silica-column and run through with n-hexane, benzol-hexane (15:85 v/v), ether-hexane (5:95 v/v) and ether-hexane (90:10 v/v) successively. The last eluted substance showed an intense inhibitory action. This inhibitory fraction was freed from the solvent and dissolved with the mixture solutionof ether-petroleum ether (20:80 v/v), and purified by passing through an alumina-column (active: inactive -4:5 w/w) and was freed from the solvent by evaporation to obtain an oil. This oil was dissolved in acetone-methanol(80:20v/v) and kept at 0°C for 2 days and then filtrated to remove a crystal formed. The filtrate wassteam-distillated under a vacuum. The distillate was dissolved with etherand the ether solution was washed with water. After evaporation of ether, it wasdissolved with petroleum ether and passed through an alumina-column (4:5 w/w). The inhibitor was eluted from the column with ether-petroleum ether mixture (5:95 v/v). The purely isolated inhibitor was obtained as a colorless oil after evaporation of the solvent. This oil was crystallized into fine colorless needles, m. p. 2_??_3°C, by standing at -10°C for 2 days.
3. The crystals of thisgermination inhibitor are easily soluble in petroleum ether, n-hexane, benzol, ether, aceton, ethanol, chloroform and carbon disul-fide, and insoluble in cold water. It has a bitter taste and a specific fragrance. It is positive in the alkali xanthate reaction, and gives a red coloration with concentrated H₂SO₄ and produces a brownish color with 0.2% potassium permanganate. It is negative in the diazotized benzidine reaction, and does not contain N and S in its component. The infrared absorption spectra show the presence of aromatic rings, alcoholic hydroxyl radical, and unsaturated double bond in it. The one-dimensional paperpartition chromatogram of this substance was deve-loped by ascending technique with thelower layer of methanol-petroleum ether-water (4:5:1 v/v) as solvent, and showed a spot having Rf 0.85. Ultra-violet absorption spectrum gives λ_max. 258mμ. The molecular formula is C₁₈H₃₀O₃.
4. This substance inhibited the germination of carrot seeds as well as lettuce seeds at the level 1:4, 000, and the Chinese-cabbage seeds at the level 1:500 dilution.
5. Because it seems to be an unknown substance, the authors wish to give the name “Carrotol” to this substance.

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In the previous paper on the local varieties of turnip, the author reported that the varieties of European-type are distributed in Eastern Japan, while the varieties of Japanese-type are distributed in Western Japan. In this research the author collected 28 local varieties of turnip from the north-western part of Central Japan and investigated their various characters to establish the border line between the distribution areas of European and Japanese types.
1. Many of these local varieties produced the seed of the B type and 22 varieties have hairy leaves; these characters are the special feature of European type.
2. In most of these varieties the root form is globe or conical and that of a few varieties is long-conical.
In color of the root, most varieties have pigments (red, purple or green) and only 3 varieties have white roots.
3. It is observed that these varieties were more hardy against the cold and slower in bolting than the Japanese-type varieties.
4. From these characteristics and distribution of varieties, it is certain that these local varieties in the northwestern part of Central Japan are classified into five groups.
5. It was found that the varieties which have hairy leaves, (hairy character is a dominant factor in European type turnip) are distributed eastwards of the line, connecting the northern part of Kyoto Prefecture-the northern part of Siga Prefecture-the border line between Siga and Gifu Prefectures.
On the contrary the varieties which produce the seeds having the A type seed coat, that is a dominant factor in Japanese-type turnip, are found in the area westwards of the line, connecting the central part of Fukui Prefecture-the western part of Gifu Prefecture-the southern part of Gifu Prefecture (Figs. 1 and 2).
6. The author considered that the distribution of turnip varieties of two different types might have been controlled not only by the ecological factors but by other factors such as historical and social ones.

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It is considered that the growing conditions of the plant during maturation of seeds after anthesis have a, close relation with the development of the seeds and their germinating ability. In this paper, the developmental process of the onion seeds, their specific gravity and the weight of the embryo or the endosperm were reported in connection with the germinating ability of the seeds.
1. Development of endosperm
The fresh weight of the endosperm increased rapidly during the second week after flowering, and qualitative change took place thereafter. First, the endosperm came slowly to be opaque and phlegmatic, then came to be pasty on the twenty-second day. The endosperm grew solid gradually and attained to its normal size about thirtieth day. During the time (from the twentieth to the thirtieth day), the fresh weight of the endosperm became heaviest and there-after the endosperm grew dry and the fresh weight decreased slowly. The normal seed was formed on the fourtieth day.
2. Development of embryo
The development of the embryo proceeded rapidly from tenth day after flowering. The embryo became half sizes large as the perfected embryo on the twentieth day and was almost perfected on the twenty-fifth day.
3. Increase of germinating rate
Some of the seeds had germinating ability on the fifteenth day after flowering, and the germinating rate reached eighty per cent on the twenty-fourth or twenty-fifth day. While, the rapidity of germi-nation arose from about twenty-fifth day at which stage the endosperm assumed pasty condition.
4. Specific gravity of seed and germinating ability
The germinating percentage of the seeds was very high when the specific gravity of the seeds was above 1.086 (embryo 0.8mg, and endosperm 3mg). The lower the spcific gravity (below 1.086), the lower the germinating percentage of the seeds. When the specific gravity of the seeds was over 1.034, they had normal embryos. When the specific gravity of the seede was below 1, 086, however, many of the seeds had endosperms not fully deve-loped. Thus it was made clear that the germinating ability of the seeds had a close relation with the development of the endosperm.

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The outline of this experiment and its results of: the first 14 years were reported in the previous, paper of this series. This paper deals with the -observation on soil profile made in 1958 and the resulfs of soil analyses on the physical and chemical properties made in 1958 to 1960.
1. Excavation of the soil profile revealed that a clay pan derived from shale was underlying at the -depth of about 40 cm, which restricted root penetration below this layer.except for a few large roots. In the soil profile to 40 cm deep, deeper root distribution and more fine roots were found in the plots recieving larger amount of green manure.
2. Physical properties of soil such as porosity, soil moisture retention, and development of soil. aggregates, were improved by the application of .green manure, especially in the 75% and 100% plots.
3. Humus content in the surface layer (0_??_7cm) was 5.66% (dry soil base) in the 100% plot, and 1.84% in the 0% plot. Humus has been accumulated in the plots where 50% or more of the fertilizer elements were applied with the green manure, and high humus content was accompanied with high nitrogen content.
4. Soil reaction in the 0% and 25% plots was strongly acidic, while the soil in the plots recieving ample supply of green manure was nearly neutral in its reaction.
5. Cation exchangeable capacity and total exchangeable cation content of the soil were increased in proportion to its organic carbon content.
6. It may be concluded that the above mentioned changes in the soil due to the application of green manure enhanced the development and activity of roots and also increased the growth and yield of citrus trees. These effects were especially conspicu ous in the 75% and 100% plots.

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Investigations were carried out on the time of physiological dropping of burs and some factors affecting it, for four years, using six varieties(Ginyose, Taisho-worse, Kasahara-wase, Akachu, Okoma and Hassaku)
1. The physiological dropping of burs showed two distinct peaks, the early and the late drops in the early (until late July) and the late (later than early August) stages of bur development, respectively,
2. Severity of the early drop varied with the variety, ie. it was serious in Gin-yose, occasionally reaching 41.2% in female blossoms, while in Taishowase and four other varieties, it was very slight, being 0.8_??_6.2%,
3. The early drop started as early as the blossoming time, became severe immediately after the falling of male blossoms, and almost ceased at the end of July.
The late drop began early in August and was almost over by the end of the same month.
4. The early drop in Gin-yose was not related to pollination, but increased with the low vigour of fruiting shoot and its mother branch, or in the blossoms late in blooming date. Dropped burs were found to be inferior in their growth to undropped ones.
5. In Gin-yose, it seemed that there exist a close relation between the early drop and the sunshine during the period from late June to early July.
6. The late drop was ascertained to be induced mainly (70_??_95%) by lack of fertilization.

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MORI and ABB(6) noted that susceptibility of apple fruit to bitter pit was increased by high potassium and low nitrogen supply, MORI and YAMAZAICI(9) have shown that bitter pit increased in proportion to potassium supply in solution culture experiment. It has been reported that excessive absorption of nitrogen increased susceptibility of apple fruit to bitter pit(7, 8). These results suggest that the cause of bitter pit may be attributable to deficiency of calcium or magnesium. It was shown, however, that magnesium has no effect on the development of bitter pit, even when severe deficiency was observed(11). Therefore emphasis should be put on calcium nutrition.
In this preliminary study, bearing trees were grown in solution culture.
For the experiment of effect of calcium deficiency on incidence of bitter pit was used Rall's variety, which is most susceptible to this disorder. When the trees were grown for two years in the solution from which calcium was eliminated, all fruits were severely affected by bitter pit at harvest time. For the experiment of magnesium or calcium deficiency, Jonathan variety which is least susceptible to bitter pit was used. Pitting was severer on the fruits on trees growing in the solution from which calcium was eliminated than on those of the standard solution, while no effect of magnesium supply was observed.

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1. Experiments were conducted to observe the chilling requirement of some deciduous fruit trees for the breakdown of bud dormancy in Kochi Prefecture. One-year-old potted trees of each species were kept in the controlled temperature chambers of -1_??_0°C and -7°C, respectively, during the certain period of 5 to 40 days up to January 20, 1957. After the treatment, the plants were placed in a warm room of 6_??_11°C for 8 days, and then in a warm glasshouse of 18_??_21°C. On April 20, they were brought to outdoors and the sprouting time, the number of buds sprouted, the period from the first to the last sprouting, and shoot elongation were observed.
2. As the result of the treatment of -1_??_0°C, the following period up to January 20 was the best for the buds to sprout early, regularly and uniformly, and for the shoots to grow well : 25_??_30 days for peaches, 25 days for Japanese pears, 20_??_25 days for grapes, and 5_??_10 days for Japanese persimmons. However, when treated with -7°C, numerous buds of every species especially near the top of thctree were much damaged, so that the percentageof buds sprouted, and the total amount of shoot length were much inferior as compared with when treated with -1_??_0°. Moreover, when the treat-ment of -7°C continued more than 30 days, all ofthe buds of grapes and Japanese persimmons were frozen to death.
3. In Japanese pears, grapes, and Japanesepersimmons, the shoots sprouted from the upperpart of the tree grew more vigorously than thosefrom the lower part, regardless of the treatment. However, in peaches the result was somewhat. different, that is, only when treated with -1_??_0°C, the shoot sprouted from the upper part of the tree, grew well, while when not treated, the shoots from. the lower part grew better. The fact suggests to us that the winter temperature in the coastal region of Kochi Prefecture is too high for the breakdown of the dormancy of peach buds at the upper part of the tree.

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Experiments were conducted on the effect of hydrogen-ion concentration of cultural solution on the growth of grapevines growing in'the sand or solution culture. The vines used were the cuttings, of Black Queen variety.
In the first experiment, vines were grown in the sand culture, and were applied with the solution containing both nitrate and ammonium as nitrogen source. pH of the solution was maintained at 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, by frequent adjustments by adding HCI, or NaOH. After two years' growth, no significant differences in the growth and fruit yield (in the second year) were found among the vines growing at various pH ranging from 4 to 8.
In the second experiment, vines were grown in the solution culture. As nitrogen source, ammonium sulphate was applied to one series (ammonium series), and nitrate of soda to another series (nitrate series). The pH of the solution was maintained at 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
In the ammonium series, vine growth was normal at pH 6, 7, and 8, but was very poor at 4 and 5, and showed yellow spots in their leaves. In the nitrate series, growth was normal at pH 4 and 5, but leaves of the vines growing at higher pH became chiorotic, and failed early at pH 8.
Chemical analyses revealed that calcium and magnesium contents were low and iron content was very high at pH 4 and 5 in the ammonium series. In the nitrate series, calcium and, magnesium contents were high at lower pH, and iron content decreased significantly as pH increased.

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1. Shortenig nursery period of stocks has been investigated using stocks of current year in peach, pear, maple and orange in 1959 to 1960.
2. The possibility of shortening nursery period of stocks was recognized in every plants investigated. Especially, nursery plants of good quality were obtained within one year in peach. However, another year of cultivation was necessary after grafting in maple and orange.
3. The percentage of union and the amount of growth were observed among the combinations of different positions of stocks and scions, which were taken from different positions of shoots in 1960.
4. There was no relation between the percentage of union and the position of grafting on the stock. However, grafting of scion taken from basal part of shoot showed a poor result of union. While, the upper the part from where the scions were taken, the better the results.
The largest amount of current year growth was obtained from the scion grafted on the basal part of stock.
5. The moisture contents of scion and stock were measured relating to their union percentage in peach, maple and camellia in 1960. There was no relation between the moistine content and union percentage in each plant. Also, the differences in moisture contents between the scion and the stock seemed to have no influence on their union percentages.

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Three experiments were conducted to clarify the effects of soil moisture on the blindness in gladiolus.
The first experiment Corms of T. E. Wilson variety were planted in wooden poxes with sand in glasshouse, on June 12, 1959. The boxes were grouped into four plots (I, II, III, and IV), and were supplied with water every 1, 3, 6, and 9 days respectively.
The second experiment : Corms of Sequeen variety were planted in a bench with sand in glasshouse on June 6, 1959, and the dry plot was dried up for 5 weeks from June 24 without supplying water, while in the ccntrol, water was supplied almost every day. Samples were taken from each plot every week, and the development of flower bud was observed by binoculor and photographed.
The third experiment : Corms of Sequeen variety were planted in WAGNER'S pots with sand in glasshouse. Water supply was suspended in the “A group for 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 weeks from June 24, when the first blade emerged. In the “B” group, it was suspended for 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks from July 15, when the third or fourth blades had emerged, and in the “C” group, for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 weeks from July 29, when the fifth or sixth blades had emerged. After the termination of suspension of watering, all plants were supplied with water again almost every day.
1. In the first experiment, 15. 5% of blind plants was recorded in the III plot which was supplied with water on every 6 th day, and 51% in the IV plot which was supplied on every 9 th day, while no blind plant was observed in the I and the II pots. The soil moisture fluctuated from 100. 4% to 22. 2% to water capacity in the III plot, and 101.2% to 36.5% to water capacity in the II plot.
2. In the second experiment, growth of the plants ceased in the dry plot, whereas normal growth was observed in the control plants. Blind plants were not observed in either plot.
3. In the third experiment, it was observed that the resistance to dryness of soil was stronger in early stages of growth than in later stages.
4. From the results obtained, dryness has less serious influence on blind than day length or nutrition when gladiolus is cultured in autumn.

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1. Authors have investigated the cooling system of fan-and-pad in the green house under the climatic conditions of Tokyo.
2. Temperature in the green house can be lowered about 3-5°C in September.
3. Shading with marsh-reed screen above the glass roof is more effective for decreasing temperature than the fan-and-pad system alone.
4. Chilled air moved mainly in the space between the soil surface and the top of pad.
5. Wood shavings are better than Saran rock fiber as the material for pad, because they are good source for supplying water vapor.
6. The degree of lowering temperature of this system depends upon the humidity of air in summer.

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