THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 53 



after several years' use in his nursery work, but California nurserymen 

 generally have grown relatively few Japan-root trees. 



Oregon nurserymen use Japan roots very largely and this stock is 

 also in favor in Washington. It has been used for twent^'-eight years 

 by AV. T. Hood & Co. of Richmond, Virginia. Other prominent nursery- 

 men who have found the root satisfactory, are Stark Bros., Chase 

 Nursery Co., Franklin Davis Nursery Co., William P. Stark, Skinner 

 & Co.. Shenandoah Nurseries, Oregon Nursery Co., Watson & Co., and 

 Milton Nursery Co. 



The Japan root probably has one serious disadvantage — under condi- 

 tions of excessive soil saturation it may be injured by root rot. If pear 

 orchards on blight-resistant roots are desired, in such soils it may be 

 best to grow dwarf pears on quince roots. Notwithstanding this one 

 disadvantage of Japan, and the fact that it may be a little more expen- 

 sive to the nurseryman to propagate trees on this root, we have dis- 

 carded the French root entirely in our nursery and will neither buy, 

 sell, give away, nor plant in our own orchards, any trees 'on French 

 roots. We believe the French root must go because of its many evil 

 qualities. If more complete acquaintance with the Japan root should 

 prove that it has serious faults, the next step in the direction of blight- 

 resistant roots will be the propagation of trees on rooted cuttings of 

 certain varieties of Pynis communis blood that have showTi wonderful 

 immunity to blight. It will probably take ten years of experiment to 

 bring about this substitution, but the orchardist of the present may 

 feel positive assurance that the day of blight-resistant roots is now at 

 hand, and may at least safeguard his orchard to this extent. 



Grateful acknowledgement is made to Dr. Taylor, Professors Waite, 

 Gould, Lewis, O'Gara, Hedriek and Reimer, all of whom have gener- 

 ously given information that has been of material assistance in the 

 preparation of this paper. 



WEED ERADICATION. 



By O. W. Newman. 



The time to plant spring crops has come. Before purchasing seed it 

 should be thoroughly'- inspected for weed seeds, and tested for germina- 

 tion. This applies to all seeds. A merchant is just as apt to sell corn 

 or beans which may be poor in vitality as to sell grain or alfalfa lilled 

 with weed seeds. Napa and yellow star thistle were introduced in grain 

 and spread from Napa County over many northern counties. 



sow CLEAN SEED. 



It will pay to buy the best seed on the market. Seed is not necessarily 

 a bargain because it is cheap. Have a good representative sample of 

 the prospective pui'chase tested, by the county horticultural commis- 

 sioner or the farm adviser. 



Rice growers especially should be very careful to sow clean seed. 

 Experiences of the last few years have proved this at the cost of many 

 thousands of dollars. Over 2.000 acres of California rice land have 

 been abandoned because of the water grass, which was introduced in 

 the rice seed. 



