60 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



added to cause it to slack. The posts in the sixth row were soaked over night in a 

 solution of iron sulphate and then dipped in limewater, while those of the seventh 

 row were treated with carbolineum, a proprietary wood preservative. 

 The results of the treatment will be reported from time to time. 



SEEDS— WEEDS. 



Tests of the vitality of vegetable seeds, E. H. Jenkins (Connecticut State Sta. 

 Rpt. 1903, pt. 5, pp. 4^2-4-39). — A report is given of the tests of 201 samples of field 

 and garden seeds, which were made during the year covered by this report, and are 

 in continuation of those previously reported (E. S. R., 15, p. 4K2). The average 

 maximum and minimum vitality of all the different lots of seed are reported in 

 tabular form, after which notes are given on the vitality of onion seed as affected by 

 age. A comparison is given of the vitality of crops of Connecticut grown onion seeds 

 in the years 1894 to 1903, and the sprouting capacity of different varieties of onion 

 seed. 



Long distance transportation of seeds, J. C. Harvey (Agr. Bui. Straits and 

 Federated Mala;/ States, 2 (1903), No. 1, pp. 5, 6). — An account is given of a method 

 of packing seeds of Castilloa elastica. in which their vitality was retained for more than 

 100 days. 



Fresh seeds were dried and cured for 5 days in the shade, after which they were 

 packed in 6 and 8 oz. tins in powdered charcoal. To every pint of pulverized char- 

 coal was added 1 tablespoonful of water, the charcoal being thoroughly mixed by 

 shaking it through a sieve. The seeds were then packed in tins, adding charcoal so 

 that all the interstices were thoroughly rilled, after which the charcoal was heaped 

 up and the top of the can pressed down so as to prevent any shaking. The seed, 

 were shipped from Vera Cruz, Mexico, to California, and at the expiration of 115 

 days were returned and sown, with the result that 60 per cent of the young seed- 

 lings developed. 



In a similar way seeds of the jack or breadfruit nut (Artocarpus integrifolia) were 

 shipped from Burma, 80 per cent of the seeds producing plants. 



The Macdonald-Robertson Seed Growers' Association, G. H. Clark (Ontario 

 Agr. and Expt. Union Rpt. 1903, pp. 55-58). — A description is given of the aims and 

 methods of the above seed growers' association, which was organized largely for the 

 improvement of seeds of agricultural plants. 



Seed control in Cape Colony, E. A. Nobbs (Agr. Jour. Cape Good Hopje, 24 

 (1904), No. 5, pp. 617-621). — A description is given of the facilities provided by the 

 I >ei >artment of Agriculture of Cape Colony for the systematic analyses of seed. Forms 

 are given of application blanks for testing seed samples, a form of report, and direc- 

 tions for taking samples, charges for making the analyses, etc. 



The methods of seed analysis, E. A. Nobbs (Agr. Jour. Cape Good Hope, 24 

 (1904), No. 3, pp. 354-361, figs. 4)- — A brief account is given of the methods of seed 

 analysis and a description given of seed testing as carried on in a number of European 

 and American laboratories. Direction is given for the drawing of samples, botanical 

 examination, germination, tests, etc. 



Annual report of the central seed-testing laboratory of Aynsome, J. S. 

 Remington (Aynsome Agr. Sta., Grange-orer-Sands, Cent. Seed- Testing Lab. Rpt. 1903, 

 pp. 42). — A report is given of the seed testing carried on at the central seed-testing 

 laboratory for the period from September 1, 1902, to June 30, 1903, during which 

 time 697 samples of seed were examined. 



The rules followed at this station are modeled on those adopted by the German 

 seed control stations and in the main have proved very satisfactory. A synopsis is 

 given of the requirements for seed inspection and the principal investigations are 

 briefly outlined. 



