SEEDS WEEDS. 233 



The author discusses tlie influence of arsenic on vegetation at some 

 length, and especially the root growth in arsenic-bearing media. While 

 arsenic is deleterious in water culture, this may not necessarily be the 

 case Avhen the poison is present in the soil in solid form. — v. w. woll. 



Testing garden seeds, L. F. Kinney and G. E. Adams {Rhode 

 Islfoid iSta. 1>kI. ,55, pp. 131-167, Jigs. (I). — A report is given of the results 

 obtained from tests of 233 samples of seed repres^enting standard vari- 

 eties of common vegetables. The seeds were purchased m the open 

 market and were represented as having been secured from 19 different 

 seedsmen. The methods of testing are described in full, and a tabu- 

 lated statement is given in which is shown the data secured for each 

 variety during the test. For comparison the authors have adopted 

 standards of vitality and i)urity, which are proposed as standards for 

 good merchantable seed. Numerous diagrams are given showing the 

 relative value of the seed from the different dealers, comparing them 

 with the |)roposed standards. Tables are given showing the average 

 vitality and purity of the sami)les tested, the average weight of 100 

 seed in grams and the average number of seed in an ounce of each kind 

 of seed. 



In the material examined there was little foreign matter iiresent, bnt 

 in quite a number of samples a considerable proportion of dead seed 

 was present, as much as 75 per cent in some cases. Many of the sam- 

 ples fell below the value required by the standard. 



Latent life of seed, V. Jodin aud A. G autier ( Gompt. Rend., 122 

 {1896), No 23, pp. 1349-1352). — Notes are given of experiments con- 

 ducted with air- dried peas that were sealed in vessels for various lengths 

 of time. Analyses are given of the atmosphere showing a slight loss of 

 oxygen due to intramolecular respiration. One lot of 20 seeds that was 

 sealed up for 4 years and 7 months retained its germinative ability. 

 In another lot of 20, half were removed in li years, when 8 germi- 

 nated readily and 2 rotted without sprouting. The remaining 10 were 

 tested in 6^ years and 2 germinated and grew, 2 germinated with difii- 

 culty, and 6 rotted without sprouting. In one experiment the average 

 amount of oxygen annually absorbed by a seed was 0.036 cc. 



Germination of Lathyrus sylvestris seed, C. O. Harz {Dent. Ztschr. Theirmed. 

 and vergleich. Pathol., 1S06, Suppl. 19, pp. 59-6(1; abs. in Bot. Ceulbl., 67 {1S96), No. S, 

 I). 249). — The author tested 10 lots of llat-pea seed uuder a bell .jar and tlie average 

 time rerjuired for gernuuatiou was 351 days. Experiments couducted m the held 

 showed that from 1 to 1^ ytnirs were re([nired for germination. 



On the influence of fertilizers on germination, G. de Marneffe {Ingeiiieur agri- 

 cole Gembloux, 1S96, No 11). 



On the examination of commercial seed, F. F. Buuijning (Arch. Mus^e Teyler, 

 8er.2, 5 {1896), No. 1, irp. 1-14; ah.f. in Bot. Centbl. Beihefte, 6 {1890), No. 4, j)p. S19, 

 320). — Notes are given of the examination of commercial seed and clover seed with 

 the view of ascertaining their pnrity and the nature of their impurities. 



On the eradication of colchiciim, V.. Drxaiffk {Prog. Agr. el Fit., 26 (1896), No. 

 33, pp. 189, 190, figs, i).— An iuHtriuiieut is (hjscrilted for raising the bulbs from tlie 

 ground. 



