DISEASES OF PLANTS. 795 



pigweed {A. chlorostachys), rough amaranth (^1. retroflexus), low amar- 

 anth (.1. blifoiden), common tumbleweed (.1. albtis), dandelion {Tarax- 

 acum o^^ciiude). 



In addif ion to the foregoing a list of 50 plants which may be more or 

 less troublesome is given. The necessity for some form of weed legis- 

 lation is pointed out and suggestions offered for a modification of the 

 law in order to make it more efficient. 



Germination of barley as influenced by soaking and drying, A. Reicuard 



{Chem. Ztg., 21 {1S97), Xo. 4, pp. 21-JS). 



Influence of drying on germination of barley, JiKHHENu ( Wiiri. Wochenhl. 

 Landw., 1S07, Xo. 6, pp. 7S-S0). 



A germinating apparatus ( (Im-d. Chron., ser. 3, 21 {1897), Xo. 531, p. 143, fig. 1). 



Investigations of seed-testing methods, Hartleb and Stutzer {Jour. Landw., 

 £5 {1S97), Xo. 1, pp. 43-60). 



Seed testing at home, A. J. Pikters ( U. S. Dept. Ayr. Yearbook 1895, pp. 175-184, 

 figs. 3). — The author in a popular article points out the desirahility of seed testing 

 and describes some simi)le forms of apparatus that can be easily devised for testing 

 the germination of seed. Explicit directions are given for conducting germination 

 tests and a table of standards is provisionally offered for the leading vegetable, grain, 

 grass, and forage-plant seeds. 



Oil-producing seeds, G. II. Hicks ( U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearhook 1895, pp. 184-204, figs. 

 11). — Popular notes are given on some of the more important oil-producing seeds, 

 cotton, flax, castor bean, European spurge, vsunflower. Madia, Niger seed, peanut, 

 sesame, hemp, rape, and poppy being especially described. Methods of extraction 

 and principal uses for the various oils are given, together with a brief account of the 

 cultivation and distribution of the plant producing the seed. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



What species of grass are able to infect the barberry with rust? 



J. Eriksson [Ztsclir. Ptianzeiilrank., 6 (1896)^ Xo. 4, pp. 19o-l!J7).— The 

 author reports upon a series of inoculation experiments made in 1895 

 as to what species of grass were hosts for rusts that were also parasitic 

 upon the barberry. He found that the following species were capable 

 of serving as hosts for the barberry rust: Agrostis stolonifera, A. vul- 

 garis, Aira cmspitosa, A. Jlexuosa, Alopecurus nigricans, A. pratensis, 

 A vena elatior, A. sativa, Bromus secalinus, Dactylis glomerata, Elymus 

 arenarius, E. glaucifoUus, Hordeum vulgare, MiHum effusum, Fanicum 

 miliaceum, Phleum boehmeri, P. michelii, Poa chalxi, P. compressa, Secale 

 cereaJc, Triticum caninnm, T. repens^ and T. vulgare. Experiments were 

 also conducted with negative results with Poa pratensis, Triticum uni- 

 cum, Festuca elatior, and Phleum pratense, altliough in previous experi- 

 ments the first 2 species gave ])ositive results. 



On the relation of the time of seeding and the period of devel- 

 opment on the development of rust and smut of oats, 11. L. 1>ol- 

 LEY [Froc. Soc. Promotion Agl. *SV/. 1>^!J0, pp. 70-75). — A preliminary 

 report is given of investigations by the author, in which is tabulated 

 the percentage of rust shown by 39 varieties of oats in 1891 and 1895, 

 from which it appears that there is a wide variation in the liability of 

 15502— No. 9 o 



