FIELD CROPS. 435 



The root systems of different varieties of spring wheat, von Seeliiorst and 

 Krzymowski (Jour. Ldiulic, o7 {1909), No. 1, p. 115). — Observations made 

 in connection with the experiments described in the previous abstract indicated 

 that the high yielding sorts have larger root systems than those of lower pro- 

 ductivity and that Schlanstedt wlicat has this character developed to a marked 

 dofiroe. 



Resume of experiments on the development of wheat on the black soils 

 of Southern Russia, T. Lokot (/<ip. \()r<j-Alcknciii<lri. /*(.sf. >S'r/.s7,-. Klioz. i 

 L)/p.-oi\, 19 (1908), Xo. 3, pp. 157-165).— Pot culture and field tests showed 

 that in deep and moist black soil a rank growth of the stems and leaves took 

 place, while the development of the grain was comparatively small. It was 

 observed that the evaporation of moisture from the wheat plant is relatively 

 the greatest in its first stages of growth, and that at the moment of its most 

 rapid development, about the time when the heads begin to form, evaporation 

 is relatively the smallest. At the ripening of the grain the quantity of moisture 

 passing through the jilant again increases. The quantity of water evaporated 

 was approximately 450 gm. for each gram of dry matter produced. 



Moisture content and shrinkag'e in grain, J. W. T. Duvel ( U. S. Dept. Agr., 

 Bur. Plant Indus. Circ. 32, pp. 13). — This bulletin discusses the loss of weight 

 in handling grain and the reduction of moisture and shrinkage, and points out 

 why the reduction of moisture and the shrinkage in grain are not the same and 

 how the difference between the reduction of moisture and the shrinkage can be 

 determined. For the purpose of this determination tables are arranged, with 

 the necessary explanation. 



Report of the Nebraska seed laboratory, E. M. Wilcox and Xelle Stevenson 

 (Xchniskd sta. Bui. 110. pp. 5-29, figs. 12). — This bulletin contains a statement 

 regarding the work of the seed laboratory from January, 1908, when it was 

 established, to May 1, 1909. During this time 463 samples were received and 

 636 different tests were made during the first year, and 617 samples received 

 and 950 tests made during the second year. Over 50 per cent of the samples 

 were received from Nebraska. A table gives the results of tests and examina- 

 tion of samples received up to July 1, 1908. 



In 201 samples of alfalfa examined the purity varied from 56 to 99 per cent, 

 the germination from 50 to 100 per cent, the inert matter from 0.1 to 12 per 

 cent, and the foreign seed from to 36 per cent. One sample contained over 

 9 per cent of dodder. Buckhorn, wild carrot, wild chicory, lamb's quarters, 

 and the seeds of about 75 other weeds were also found in the samples. 



The purity of 61 samples of red clover examined varied from 75 to 99 per 

 cent, the germination from 67 to 100 per cent, the inert matter from 0.3 to 12 

 lier cent, and the foreign seed from 0.1 to 22 per cent. Clover dodder seeds 

 were found in 8 of the samples, and over 70 other more or less noxious weed 

 seeds were also present. Buckhorn was present in nearly 50 per cent of the 

 clover samples examined. 



Twenty-six samples of awnless brome grass were examined, and these varied 

 in purity from 33 to 96 per cent, in germination from to 86 per cent, in inert 

 matter from 2 to 46 per cent, and in foreign seed from 0.1 to 56 per cent. 

 Wheat grass was most abundant in the brome grass seed, and common cheat 

 and other sorts of brome grass of little or no value were also found. 



Some of the more common and injurious weeds of the State are described and 

 figured. 



The 'killing of mustard and other noxious weeds in grain fields by the 

 use of iron sulphate, E. W. Olive (Houtli Dakota Sta. Bui. 112, pp. .'iA5-.'i9H. 

 figs. 3). — A general description of the method of killing weeds, particularly 



