1140 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. 



All improved method of separating buckhorn from red clover and alfalfa 

 seeds, H. B. Shaw (U. /S'. DcpL Affi:, Bur. I'laiit Indus. Circ. 2, pi>. 12, figs. 

 10). — Different methods of removing buckhorn from clover and alfalfa seeds 

 are described. In all of them advantage is taken of the mucilaginous character 

 of the buckhorn seeds. The seed infested with buckhorn is moistened and 

 mixed with sawdust, sand, road dust, or the light, absorbent chaff of various 

 grasses. The buckhorn seeds under these conditions become coated with these 

 different substances and may then be separated by means of tlie proper screens. 



Troublesome weeds of the year, S. B. McCkeady {Ann. Rpt. Ontario Agr. 

 Col. and E.rpt. Farm, 33 il!>07), pp. -'i2-Ji7, figs. J/). — The following weeds are re- 

 ported as the most troublesome in the province during the year : Sonchus arven- 

 sis, Silcnc inflata, Brassica sinai>istrum, Agropiiron rvpcns, Convolvulus arvcn- 

 sis, and Thlaspi arvensc. New weeds becoming troublesome are Lcpidium cani- 

 pcstre, Barharca riilgaris, Antcnnaria ncodioica, Fcstuca tcnuifolia, Eupliorhia 

 helioscopia, and Haponaria vacaria. Eruca sativa, Senecio jacobwa, and Cheno- 

 podium vulraria appeared in Ontario for the first time this season. The num- 

 ber of weed seeds found in samples of 20 gm. each of screenings obtained in the 

 western provinces are given in a table. 



Practical farming", ^Y. F. Massey {New York, 1907, pp. VI-\-323). — This book 

 contains 22 chapters, of which 10 treat of the soil, the plant, manure, tillage, 

 and rotation, 10 of crops and cropping. Including the culture of corn, wheat, 

 oats, cotton, tobacco, potatoes, hay, :ind grass, and 2 are devoted to commercial 

 fertilizers for various crops and U> useful tables for reference. 



HOETICULTURE. 



[Beport of I the professor of horticulture, II. L. Hutt (Ann. Rpt. Ontario 

 Agr. Col. and Expt. Farm, 33 {J!>07), pp. iJ7-/.'/iS').— A general outline of the 

 results to date in the growing of orchard fruits and vegetables. The results 

 secured with small fruits were similar to those of previous years (E. .S. R., 

 19, p. 35). 



In the plant breeding work the crossing of strawberries and raspberries was 

 largely discontinued and improvement by selection begun. A large number of 

 reciprocal crosses were made between European and American varieties of 

 plums and four suspect fruits were obtained on Glass Seedling and Shipper 

 Pride, both varieties of Prunus domcstica. No fruits were secured on varieties 

 of /'. americana. A number of crosses were made in apples and small quantities 

 of seed secured. /'. virginiana, the common wild chokecherry, was successfully 

 crossed wath sour cultivated cherry and the cultivated plums. 



Kelative to orchai'd cover crops, it is stated that hardy cover crops are desir- 

 al)le on cold wet soils of that region, in order that they may take up the surplus 

 of soil water in the spring. The cover crops giving the best results after 5 

 years' tests are hairy vetch, alfalfa, mammoth clover, red clover, and winter rye. 



Of the apples, pears, plums, and cherries set out in l.s<)7 all of the fruits, 

 with the exception of apples, have practically succumbed either to the severity 

 of the winters, unfavorable soil conditions, or diseases. A fair pi'oiiortion of 

 the original S5 varieties of apjiles have made average growth. Tabular data 

 are given showing the heaviest yielding varieties to date in the young orchard, 

 and the average yield of varieties in the old orchard for the last 5 years. 



An investigation was conducted in lf)05 and 1006 by G. E. Sanders relative 

 to the sterility and partial fertilization of apple blossoms. Extracts from a 

 table based on this investigation are given showing the relative blooming periods 

 and results of tests of self-sterility among the leading commercial varieties 

 of apples. Sterility tests were also conducted iu 1907 with many varieties of 



