438 EXPEBIMENT STATION BECOED. [Vol.36 



Striking differences in vigor of growth were exhibited by seeds of Phaseolus 

 muUifiorus and P. vulgaris. Planted at a depth of 20 cm., 97 per cent of the 

 seed of P. muUifiorus and only 12 per cent of the seed of P. vulgaris produced 

 plants. When planted at a depth of 25 cm., 88 per cent of the seed of P. muUi- 

 fiorus reached the surface of the soil, while not a single seedling of P. vulgaris 

 appeared. 



Spnouting seeds of Helianthus and Cucurbita showed less vigor in pushing 

 through the soU than those of peas, lentils, vetch, and P. multiflorus. Thickly 

 planted seeds of Zea maize and P. vulgaris, at depths of from 15 to 25 cm., 

 came up quicker and in greater numbers than the same number of seeds planted 

 on twice the area. In humus soil the difference in the vigor of growth of seeds 

 of Vicia sativa was insignificant, in sandy soil plainly perceptible, and in clay 

 soil quite marked. Lentil seeds, which possess a relatively high vigor of 

 growth, exhibited practically no difference when planted 25 cm. deep. 



In the field tests with seeds planted at depths of 15, 20, and 25 cm., the per- 

 centage of successful gei-mination and growth was as follows: Lentils, 53, 42, 

 and 16 ; peas, 50, 44, and 20 ; V. faba, 68, 40, and 20 ; P. muUifiorus, 36, 8, and 

 0; and P. vulgaris, 2, 0, and 0, respectively. In a similar test, with the depth 

 of planting at 10 cm., the percentage of seedlings secured from the seeds planted 

 was as follows: Pumpkin, 40; sunflower, 66; oats, 82; barley, 75; and club 

 wheat, 60 per cent. 



Crucifers and grasses, with reference to their utilization of soil nitrogen, 

 T. Pfeiffer, W. Simmebmacheb, and Miss M. Spangenbekg (Fuhling's Landto. 

 Ztg., 64 (1915), No. 21-22, pp. 521-584). — This article, somewhat controversial 

 in nature, reports the results of several series of pot experiments conducted 

 to determine (1) whether the plant food contained in mustard grown in a 

 mixture with grain can be utilized by the grain crop after the mustard has been 

 destroyed by spraying with iron sulphate solution, (2) whether the yield 

 of oats grown alone is as large as or larger than the yield of oats grown mixed 

 with mustard which is destroyed when it begins to bloom, and (3) whether 

 the nitrifying capacity of the soil is changed under the influence of a mixed 

 culture of oats and mustard as compared with oats grown alone. The conclu- 

 sion drawn from the results secured is that mustard is without effect In each 

 of the relationships studied, and that the assumption of L. Hiltner regarding 

 the value of mustard in mixed culture in relation to the companion crop is 

 not based on adequate evidence. 



Grasses with creeping roots. — Advantages and disadvantages, E. Bbeak- 

 WELL {Agr. Guz. N. S. Wales, 26 (.1915), No. 12, pp. 1031-10S4, pis. 7).— This 

 article deals with a discussion of the root systems of Johnson grass (Sorghum 

 halepense), couch grass (Cynodon dactylon), Rhodes grass (Chloris gayana), 

 simimer grass (Panicum sanguinale), and Paspalum dilatatum, a common 

 pasture grass in New South Wales. The advantages of each grass as a pasture 

 grass due to its stoloniferous tendencies and physiological characteristics are 

 discussed and illustrated. The disadvantages when the grasses are encountered 

 in cultivated fields are also discussed, and methods of eradication for each 

 grass are briefly outlined. 



[The production of young grass with heavy applications of sulphate of 

 ammonia], H. Neubauer, G. Hillkowitz, and P. Schneideb (Fuhling's Landw. 

 Ztg., 64 (1915), No. 21-22, pp. 534-543). — Experimental data are presented 

 showing the greater production of total and digestible protein from a given 

 area of either high or medium fertility when the grass was cut every 14 days 

 as compared with cutting three times during the season. In connection with 

 the use of 400 kg. of ammonium sulphate per hectare (356 lbs. per acre), it 

 was observed that an increase in grass production took place immediately 



