FIELD CROPS. 839 



that would grow in the case of high and low grade red-clover seed was $10.15 

 and $27.53 per bushel, respectively, $13.12 and $19.66, respectively, in case of 

 alfalfa seed, and $2.62 and $3.17 in case of timothy seed. 



Sale of seeds in Canada (Abs. in Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 18 (1912), No. 10, 

 pp. 870, 871).— This contains a statement of the standards fixed by the Cana- 

 dian teed control act of 1911 for certain grades of timothy, red clover, alsike 

 clover, and alfalfa seed, or any mixture containing them. 



Canadian Seed Growers' Association (Camid. Seed Growers' Assoc. Rpt., 7 

 (1911), pp. 12Jt, pis. 3, figs. 2).— This contains the minutes of the seventh annual 

 meeting and the papers and addresses presented. One of these papers presents 

 a resume of plant breeding in Sweden, dealing with results obtained at Sviilof. 



The viability of weed seeds after passing through the digestive tract of 

 farm animals, E. Korsmo {Tidsskr. Norske Landbr., IS {1911), No. J, pp. 

 223-230). — The literature on the subject is reviewed, and an account is given 

 of original experiments in feeding weed seeds to a horse, a cow, and a hog. 

 The percentages of viable seeds of different kinds of weeds that were found in 

 the feces were as follows: Sorrel {Rumex acetosella), 26.4, 70.6, and 5 per cent 

 for the horse, cow, and hog, respectively; lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album), 

 2.5, 16.3, and 20.4 per cent; chamomile (Matricaria inodora), 10.4, 24, aijd 0.02 

 per cent; Rumex domesticus, 23, 90.4, and 11.3 per cent; bird rape (Brassica 

 campestris), 5.1 and 2,2 per cent for the horse and cow, respectively; stinkweed 

 (Thalaspi arvense), 37 per cent, and wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis), 5.4 per 

 cent for the horse; and ox-eye daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum) , 7.5 per 

 cent for the cow. 



Iron sulphate and lime nitrogen for weed eradication, S. Rhodin (K. 

 Landtbr. Akad. Ilandl. och Tidskr., 50 (1911), No. 6, pp. 433-445, figs. 2; Meddel. 

 Centralanst. Forsoksv. Jordbruksomrddet, 1911, No. 40, pp. 15, figs. 2). — Iron 

 sulphate in solution proved preferable to lime nitrogen in the form of powder 

 for the eradication of mustard and muUen. Lime nitrogen was found to be a 

 sure and strong poison for mullen, and did not injure oats when applied as a 

 powder any more than iron sulphate in solution. Barley, however, is very 

 sensitive to lime nitrogen, and if a long, dry warm period should follow 

 the application it would be likely to be injured or at least retarded in its 

 development. 



A series of plats was seeded with oats which contained 5 per cent white 

 mustard seed and treated with iron sulphate, lime nitrogen, and hand cultiva- 

 tion. The grain yields resulting were 1,740, 1,830, and 1,600 kg. of grain per 

 hectare, respectively, as compared with 950 kg. on the check plat. The straw 

 yields varied in the same order, except that the check plat excelled all the 

 others. The mustard-seed yields were 178, 348, and 828 kg. p^r hactare, re- 

 spectively. The profit arising from the treatment was 30 crowns per hectare 

 ($3.25 per acre), as compared with 68.1 and 71.32 crowns per hectare, respec- 

 tively, in case of treatments with iron sulphate and lime nitrogen. 



Similar treatment of a natural weed flora on a marshy soil was followed by 

 yields of 2.640, 2,871, and 2,356 kg. of oats per hectare after hand cultivation 

 iron sulphate, and lime nitrogen, as compared with a yield of 1,812,5 kg. per 

 hectare on the check plat. The total wheat yields were 67.5, 104, and 43 kg. 

 per hectare, as compared with 367 kg. on the check plat. The estimated profits 

 in this test were 69.67, 114.55, and 26.05 crowns per hectare, respectively. 



Canada thistle and its eradication, A. G. Johnson (Indiana Sta. Circ. S2, 

 pp. 12 figs. 3). — This circular gives the text of the Indiana laws pertaining to 

 the Canada thistle and gives directions for the eradication of this pest 



44616°— No. 9—12 4 



