599 



the weed war from June to November, or whenever the rains happen to set in. In 

 the older cultivated regions, in fact, the extirpation has frequently been so complete 

 that in the absence of the supply of vegetable matter usually furnished by plowing- 

 iu of weeds, the green manuring of the clean orchards and vineyards is being seriously 

 taken in hand. 



SoiiE California weed seeds, H. P. Dyer (pp. 252-266, figs. 

 23).— Descriptive uotes on the followiug species of weeds, with illustra- 

 tions of their seeds: Raphaniis mtivus, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Escli- 

 scholtzia cmcea, Erodium mosehatum, Geranhim carolinianum, G. clis- 

 sectum, Silene gallica, Claytonia pcifoliata, Calandrinia menziesii, Malva 

 parvijlora, Medica<jo denticulata, Lupinus micranthus, TrifoUum graci- . 

 lentum, Agoseris plcbela, A. Mrsuta, Calais Undleyi, Hypoehmris radicata, 

 Sonchns oleraceus, Matricaria discoidea, Senecio vulgaris, Gnaplialimn 

 purpiireum, Stachys hullata, AmsincMa intermedia. 



Trees planted on Mount Hamilton, K. McLennan (p. 267). A 



brief report ou a number of species of trees planted in 1889 and 1890. 



Eeport on the Sierra Foothill Substation (pp. 268-277). 



This includes a brief account of improvements at the substation near 

 Jackson, Amador County, and notes on orchard fruits and nuts, by C. 

 H. Shinn, and reports on tests of varieties of grain and experiments 

 with fertilizers on barley grown for hay by G. Hansen. 



Tests of varieties of grain. — Tabulated data are given for 45 varieties 

 of wheat, 19 of barley, 12 of oats, 5 of rye, and 5 of spelt grown in 1890 

 and 1891 on red and granite soils. 



Experiments loith fertilizers on barley groicn for hay. — An account of 

 an exi^eriment on a soil consisting for the most part of decomposed 

 granite, which analysis showed to be deficient in phosphates and humus. 

 Nitrate of soda and bone meal, singly and in combination, and a 

 "complete fertilizer" were compared with no manure. The yield was 

 increased in every case by the application of fertilizers and was doubled 

 where nitrate of soda and bone meal were used together. 



Report on the Southern Coast Range Substation (pp. 278- 

 286). — A brief account of the work at the substation near Paso Robles, 

 San Luis Obispo County ; brief descriptive notes on orchard fruits, 

 nuts, and grapes, by C. H. Shinn; and tabulated data on tests of 

 varieties of cereals, by R. D. Cruickshank. The latter included 42 

 varieties of wheat, 17 of barley, 10 of oats, 5 of rye, and 4 of spelt. 



Report on San Joaquin Valley Substation, C. H. Shinn 

 (pp. 287-291). — Brief notes on orchard fruits, nuts, wheat, barley, rye, 

 oats, spelt, grasses, clovers, cotton, ramie, jute, sugar beets, sorghum, 

 etc. The land at this substation, which is located at Tulare, consists 

 of " alkali" soils of different grades and is representative of a vast area 

 at present considered almost valueless for agricultural purposes. The 

 experiments in progress are made Avith a view to determining what 

 plants are adapted to such soils or what are the best methods for 

 improving them. 



