882 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



At the beginning of the experiment the mercury column, which is a feature of the 

 apparatus, remained at about 750 mm., varying only with the barometric pressure. 

 When the seeds had been prepared and placed for 15 days in the apparatus, there 

 was found to be no diminution in pressure where the seeds were thoroughly dried 

 and where the gas was anhydrous. On the contrary, if the gas was charged with 

 water vapor the seed coats became permeable and the mercury column fell accord- 

 ingly. After 2 or 3 months the passage of the gas had been sufficient to allow the 

 mercury in the tube to fall to the level of that at the base of the column. 



From these experiments it is shown that a dry seed coat is an impassable barrier 

 to dry gases, and may be placed in anhydrous gas for any length of time without 

 injury, the respiratory exchange of the seed being completely suppressed. 



The circulation of air in sprouting seed grain, J. L. Jensen ( Ugeskr. Landm., 

 49 (1904), No. 15, pp. 192-195). — The author recommends that the grain lie sprouted 

 in tall woven baskets of about 3-bu. capacity so as to obtain a good circulation of air, 

 by which considerable quantities of oxygen are supplied and the carbonic acid gas 

 generated and held in the interstices of the grain is readily removed. — f. w. woll. 



Report of the Seed Control Station and Chemical Laboratory at Molkom, 

 1903, J. A. Andersson et al. (Red. Werm. Frokontrollanst., Knit. Lab. och Mjolk- 

 kontrollamt. Molkom, 1903, pp. 38). — A report is given of the activity of the seed con- 

 trol station during 1903, in which time 3,633 analyses of seeds were made, the results 

 of which are shown in tabular form. In addition a brief report is given on the work 

 of the chemical laboratory in relation to the inspection of fertilizers, feeding stuffs, 

 dairy products, etc. 



Report of the GOteborg and Bonus Seed Control Station, J. E. Alen (Red. 

 Gbteborgs och Bohus Lam Frokontrollamt., 1902-3, pp. 20). — A report is given of the 

 activity of the seed control station for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1903, and the 

 usual data regarding the purity, genninative ability, etc., of the different varieties of 

 seeds are shown in tabular form. 



Report of the Seed Control Station of Lund for 1903, A. Vii.ke (Frokovirol- 

 lanst. Lund Verks. 1903, }>j>. 32). — The results of the seed inspection during the year, 

 covering more than 350,000 kg. of seed, are reported upon. The maximum, mini- 

 mum, and average purity and germination are shown for the different lots < if seed. 



Weed studies, L. R. Waldkon ( North Dakota Sta. Bui. 62, pp. 439-457 , figs. 5 ).— 

 The results of studies on buried weed seed and notes on French weed, quack grass, 

 and Canada and sow thistle are given. 



In 1899 a quantity of seed was buried at different depths to ascertain the effect of 

 this treatment on their germination. Preliminary reports have been made ( F. S. R., 

 13, p. 358), and in the present publication the results of germination tests made in 

 1904 are shown. It appears that small weed seeds, such as shepherd's purse, tum- 

 bling mustard, etc., in germinating will not ordinarily force their way through 2 in. 

 of soil. French weed or pennycress comes up abundantly through 1 in. of soil, less 

 so through 2 in., and not at all through 3 in. 



Seed of foxtail grasses germinates about May 1, and will not germinate in the fall 

 from seed gathered that season. Wild mustard will force its way through 3 in. of 

 soil but not through 5 in., and both wild mustard and French weed seed are not pre- 

 served in the soil for a period of years unless covered deeper than 3 in. Great rag- 

 weed will come through 5 in. of soil, and usually grows more abundantly the second 

 year than the first year after planting. 



The seed of wild buckwheat and wild oats buried for 20 months was practically 

 dead. Shepherd's purse, green foxtail, and great ragweed seeds were dead after 

 being buried 56 months. Wild mustard and French weed seeds retained their ger- 

 mination after having been buried for the same length of time. Seeds buried to a 

 considerable depth, 10 in. or more, seem to preserve their vitality better than those 

 buried less deeply. 



