140 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



original seed as well as of the grain ])r<)(lnce(l later. This cUange or degenera- 

 tion in the form of the grain in all varieties observed followed the same general 

 rnle for all dimensions. 



The length of barley grains was not inflnenced as in the case of oats when 

 the varieties were grown under changed climatic conditions. Newly introduced 

 barleys during the first 2 years showed no change in quality and an increase 

 in quantity, but with the third year they began to approach the standard 

 variety in productivity. The length of the outer grains was observed to in- 

 crease with the amount of precipitation at the time the grains were developing. 

 The thickness varied practically the same as the length. 



A study of wheat grains showed that moist as compared with dry seasons 

 favor the production of a heavy and wide grain. No uniformity with refer- 

 ence to the influence of the change of climatic conditions on the length and 

 thickness of the grain among the different varieties could be established. 



The grain weight of rye was increased with the amount of rainfall but the 

 relation was not so well defined as in the other crops. The length and thick- 

 ness varied with the precipitation. During dry seasons the proportion of yel- 

 low grains was very high, while in wet seasons it was very low, but this 

 characteristic was largely controlled by the variety. 



The grain production of the world in 1909 {Saaten, Diinger u. Futtermarkt, 

 1909, Xos. 38, pp. 988-995; 39, irp. 102.'i-1026; J,l, pp. 107 1-1080) .—The data 

 regarding the production of the principal grain crops of the world, as published 

 by the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture, are presented by countries. 



The eradication of farm weeds with iron sulphate, R. A. Moore and A. L. 

 Stone iWisconsin .S7«. Bui. 179, pp. 3-/7, figs. 6). — This is a continuation of 

 work previously noted (E. S. R.,18, p. 1042), 



In 1907, wild mustard was eradicated from fields of grain and other crops 

 by the use of a solution of iron sulphate at the rate of 52 gal, per acre. The 

 strength recommended is obtained by dissolving 100 lbs. of iron sulphate in 

 water and diluting to 52 gal. The total cost of materials and application was 

 $1.25 per acre. 



The treatment proved efficient in the eradication of dandelions in lawns but 

 less so in fields. Cocklebur, ragweed, daisies, wild lettuce, and several other 

 common weeds were partially eradicated where tests were on mustard, Can- 

 ada thistles and sow thistles were blackened but soon recovered even when sul- 

 phuric acid was added to the spray. Clean cultivation and rotation, however, 

 killed the thistles, hemp being found to be an effective crop for the purpose. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Report of the botanist, B. D. Halsted, E. .1. Owen, and N. D, Shore {New 

 Jersey Stas. Rpt. 1908, pp. 181-297, pis. 33). — The breeding and selection work 

 with truck crops (E. S, R,, 19, p, 1039) was continued. In this work the 

 production of new and improved varieties of vegetables has now been made 

 secondary to the search for the rules underlying the improvement of plants. 



The chief crops studied during the year were sweet corn, tomatoes, egg- 

 plants, beans, squashes, peas, peppers, and okra. 



Notes are given on the newer and some of the more promising older crosses 

 being tested, together with excerpts from the reports of the cooperative seed 

 testers. Several crosses and hybrids were secured among ornamental plants, 

 these including dianthus, nicotiana, pansy-violet and foxglove hybrids, and 

 petunia and snapdragon crosses. 



Among other studies with sweet corn, the test in selecting flinty seed was 

 continued with the Malamo variety. The results again show the tendency of 



