SEEDS WEEDS. 143 



The preservation of timber by artificial means, .1. H. M. Hume {Ar/r. Studeiit>>' 

 Gaz., n. ser., 10 [1901), No. S, pp. 74-79).— The relative value of timber protected 

 by artificial means against decay, and that receiving no special treatment, is shown. 

 Among the \arious materials vised for the i>reservation of timber, mention is made 

 of jmint, tar, varnish, sulphates of iron, zinc, and copi)er, chlorids of iron, zinc, and 

 mcrcuiy, creosote, etc. The use of creosote for preservation of timber is preferred on 

 many accounts, and the method of treating tim])er with this ]>reservative is described 

 at considerable length. Based upon the current market price of timber, the value 

 of creosoted timl)er is iucreasetl fully 6() ju-r cent for posts and 140 per cent for 

 boards. 



The harmfulness of bush fires, H. A. A. Nicholls (Imp. Dept. Agr..We.^t Indies, 

 rmiipldd Xo. 4, 1901, pp. ^9). — The destrnctiveness of tires carelessly started or 

 allowed to spread from intentional clearings is shown, and the author urges that 

 severe means should be taken to prevent fires resulting from carelessness. The 

 results of a number of fires, as shown in some of the now barren districts of Saint 

 Dominica are cited as examples of the destrnctiveness of forest fires and the necessity 

 for reforestati(jn. 



The protection of shade trees, E. H. Jenkins and W. E. Britton {( 'oiiiiccticut 

 tStati- Std. Rpt. 1900, pt. .), pp. :330-S51, ph. 9). — This is essentially a reprint of Bulletin 

 131 of the station ( E. S. R., 12, p. 957). 



Study in Europe for American forest students, O. W. Price {Forester, 7 

 {1901), Xo. 1, pp. 11-16, 38-41, figs. 4)- — The author reviews the characteristics of a 

 number of the more prominent regions of Europe which are generally visited by 

 students of forestry, and offers suggestions for the guidance of such students. 



SEEDS— WEEDS. 



Germination in distilled -water, P. P. Deherain and E. Demoussy ( Compt. Rend. 

 Arail. Sd. Tdrix, 142 (1901), Xo. 9, pp. 523-5-27). — The irregularities shown in the 

 germination of seed in distilled water have been ol)served for a long time, and in 

 1875 Bcehm published a memoir upon the subject in which lie held that the irreg- 

 ularity was due to the absence of lime in the distilled M'ater. He maintained that in 

 the case of beans lime was essential for their germination. His observations are said 

 to have been largely ])ased upon the fact that seeds placed in spring water which con- 

 tained various lime salts germinated readily, while those placed in the distilled water 

 were either wholly retarded or germinated poorly. The authors have investigated 

 this subject and claim that lime is not necessary to the utilization of the reserve 

 material in the cotyledons of the plant and that beans will germinate readily in pure 

 distilled water. A report is given of their experiments in wliich lieans, lupines, and 

 other seeds were germinated in watei- which ha<l been twice distilled in aglasHstill. 

 It is claimed that the experiments of Bo'lim were conducted with water which liad 

 been ke})t in copper vessels, and that the amount of copper dissolved by the distilled 

 water was sufficient to prevent germination. The authors conclude that seeds may 

 form their roots and begin their evolution in water absolutely deprived of lime, and 

 that the development of the roots may be checked in distilled water containing very 

 .slight traces of coi»i>er. 



Experiments on increasing- the germination of beet seed, Z. Ziei.inski 

 {'/Jsrhr. Landir. Versnchsiv. Oesterr., 4 {1901), No. S, pp. i.^0-i^!,7).— Anaci-ountisgiven 

 of experiments to increase the germination of beet seed. Equal lots of seed were 

 treated in different manners, after which they were germinated and comparisons 

 made with sinular lots of untreated seed. One lot was soaki'd for hours in water; 

 another for 15 hours; the third for 15 hours in sodium bichromate, and then (5 hours 

 in water; the fourth was treated with sulphuric acid for 4 hours, after which they 



