846 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



kinds of grass seed and Composite, and one seed that looked like 

 Russian thistle. 



Samples like the above are said to be not uncommon, and the author 

 recommends that farmers should not import whole grain for feed. 

 Other suggestions are given for the solution of the seed and weed 

 question. 



The vitality of seeds (Sci. Amer., 78 (lS9S),No. 8, p. 121). — Reports subjection of 

 seeds to 180° C. without injury to their vitality. 



The vitality of dormant and germinating seeds, P. Escombe (Sci. Progress, n. 

 ser., 1 (1897), No. 5, pp. 585-608). — Gives a review and bibliography of literature 

 relating to this subject. 



Two weeds, J. T. Rothrock (Pennsylvania Dept. Agr. Bpt. 1896, pp. 414-416, 

 pi. 1). — Brief notes are given of the blue thistle (Echium vulgare) and the yellow 

 daisy (Budbeckia hirta). 



Noxious weeds, J. Fletcher ( Canada Espt. Farms Bpis. 1896, pp. 275, 276, fig. 1). — 

 A brief note is made on the cow cockle (Saponaria vaccaria), known also under the 

 different names of cow herb, china cockle, and soapwort. "This plant has been 

 noticed as an aggressive enemy in field crops only during the last 2 years, and so far 

 only in the province of Manitoba, where it has spread very rapidly.'' The indica- 

 tions are that it was introduced from Europe in flaxseed. 



The orange hawkweed, L. R. JONES ( Vermont Sta. Rpt. 1896-'97,pp. 02-74, figs. 5). — 

 This is an abridgment of Bulletin 56 of the station (E. S. R., 8, p. 987). 



Notes on plants, F. L. Harvey (Maine Sta. Bpt. 1896, pp. 109-112) .—Brief notes 

 are given on various plants that were sent to the station for identification. Many 

 of these were weeds, and methods for their destruction are suggested. 



On the destruction of weeds with iron sulphate, Delarcharlonny (Jour. Soc. 

 Agr. Brabant-Hainaut, 1897, No. 49). 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Report of the botanist, L. R. Jones ( Vermont Sta. tipt. 1896->97, 

 pp. 14-62). — The results of the investigations on potato diseases, orchard 

 diseases, oat smut, and onion mildew, and their remedies, are given. 

 The conditions during the season of 1896 were rather unfavorable for 

 the development of the fungi causing the diseases of potatoes. There 

 was no occurrence of the late blight fungus at the station, but the other 

 diseases of the potato occurred much as in the previous year. 1 



Studies of the fungi associated with the early blight were made, and 

 an extensive bibliography of Alternaria solani is given. The synonymy 

 of the fungus is also given. 



Tests of various forms of Bordeaux mixture were made, in which a 

 standard Bordeaux mixture, another containing one-half as much lime, 

 and a Bordeaux powder were compared. Comparing the rows where 

 the Bordeaux powder and the solutions were used showed conclusively 

 that the Bordeaux powder is practically worthless as a fungicide. The 

 results secured indicate that standard Bordeaux mixture (copper sul 

 phate H lbs., lime 1 lb., water 10 gal.) and the mixture containing half 

 as much lime gave almost identical results, and there is practically no 



1 Vermont Sta. Rpt. 1895, p. 78 (E. S. R., 8, p. 992). 



