HORTICULTURE. 1055 



On the destruction of wild mustard (Bui. Sta. Agron. Laon, 1897, 

 P2). 68, 69). — The announcement of Bonnet that a solution of copper sul- 

 phate would destroy wild mustard and wild radish when growing 

 among - cereals without injury to the latter was tested at the station. It 

 was found that 5 per cent solutions at the rate of 800 to 1,000 liters per 

 hectare sprayed over grain fields early in the year destroyed the wild 

 mustard but was without effect upon the wild radish and other weeds, 

 although the plants were quite young. Evidently this strength of 

 solution was not sufficient for the destruction of wild radish, etc. The 

 leaves of the grain were slightly injured, but quickly recovered. No 

 effect was noticed on alfalfa or clover sown with the cereal. A 15 per 

 cent solution of iron sulphate may be substituted for the copper sul- 

 phate where it would be cheaper, but the 5 per cent copper solution is 

 preferred. The cost of treatment where power spraying machines are 

 used is given at approximately $2 per acre. 



On the seeds and testa of some Cruciferae, L. H. Pammel (Amer. Mo. Micros. 

 Jour., IS {1897), Xos. 7, pp. 205-210; 9, pp. 269-274; 10, pp. 312-317, i)ls. ,5).— Notes 

 are given on the seeds of Brassica nigra, />'. sinapistrum, />'. alba, Sysimbrinm officinale, 

 S. altissimum, Lepedium virginicum, L. apetalum, Capsella bursa pastoris, Barbarea vul- 

 garis, and Camelina saliva. 



Researches on germination, V. Jodin (Ann. Agron.. .'.: (1897), No. 10, pp. 433- 

 471). — Notes are given on the latent life of seeds, their hydration, their chemical 

 inactivity during the resting period, minimum amount of water necessary for the, 

 respiration of seeds, influence of an excessive proportion of carbon dioxid on germi- 

 nation, and minimum quantity and state of oxygen necessary for germination. 



Concerning a considerable source of error in testing clover seed, M. Glocken- 

 toeger (Landw. Vers. Stat., 49 (1897), Xo. 3, pp. 210-::.', figs.l0).—'\:]n' author reports 

 upon a possible source of error in testing clover seed, especially when tested in sand 

 or soil seed beds, and shows that broken seed coats or malformations of the seedling- 

 may result in the nonappearance of from Oto 46 per cent of the plants above the sur- 

 face of the soil. The author reports upon 143 experiments and comments on the 

 nature of the different seedlings as a result of injury. 



Concerning the methods of seed testing, H. Rodewald (Landw. Vers. Stat., 49 

 (1897), No. 4-5, pp. 257-?S6, fig. 1). — The principal part of this paper is taken up in 

 the theoretical consideration of errors in seed testing and the discussion of formulas 

 for the establishment of the limits of error. Experimental data arc? cited to prove 

 the theoretical formulas. A form of seed-testing apparatus is figured and described 

 in which the. seed are germinated in porous cups. The temperature and moisture 

 regulations are said to be under perfect control. Comments on the paper are made 

 by J. C. Kapteyn. 



Report of seed control station at Christiania, Norway, for 1896, B. Laksen 

 (Christiania, 1897, pp. S). 



Report of seed control station at Gothenburg, Sweden, July 1, 1896 to June 

 30, 1897, J. E. Alex (Gothenburg, 1S98, pp. 16). 



Notes on introduced weeds, J. B. Davy (Erythea, 6 (1S9S), Xo. 3, p. 26). — The 

 presence of Centaurea solstitialis and Taraxacum officinale as weeds is mentioned. 



Bermuda grass in Arizona, J. B. Davy (Erythea, 6 (1898), No. 3, pp. 24, 25). — Reports 

 the Bermuda grass (Cijnodon daciylon) as becoming troublesome in orchards, the 

 seeds and rhizomes being distributed by irrigation ditches. The same is also true 

 of Johnson grass (Andropogon sorghum halepensis). 



Cuscuta and its destruction, G. Heuze (Jour. Soc. Ayr. Brabant- Hainaut, 1898, 

 Xo.l). 



