144 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



were jilaced in water for 6 hours; the fifth lot was rubbed with emery paper and 

 soaked in water for 6 hours, and the sixth lot was soaked for 15 hours in a solution 

 of concentrated sulphuric acid and sodium bichromate, after wliich the seeds were 

 placed in water for 6 hours. These experiments were repeated a number of times, 

 and the germinations counted at the end of the sixth and fourteenth days, with the 

 result that in every case the treated seed contained less ungerminated seed bolls at 

 the end of the 14 days than the untreated. In 3 experiments the percentage of 

 ungerminated seed bolls was 39, 25, and 25, respectively. The highest percentage of 

 germination was secured in the seed treated as indicated above for the sixth lot, in 

 which there remained ungerminated at the end of 14 days 8, 6, and 8 per cent 

 respectively. These experiments showed the possibiUty of increasing the germina- 

 tion of seed by treating them l)efore ])lanting. 



Report of the seed-control station of Skara, 1899-1890, S. Hammar (Ber. 

 Verks. Skara Kem. Sta. FronkoniroUnist., 1900, jrp. 25-31). — A report is given of the 

 various seed tests conducted at the laboratory between July 1, 1899, and June 30, 

 1900; the maximum, minimum, and average germinations of the different kinds of 

 seeds being shown in tabular form. 



A report of the seed-control station of Vienna for the year 1900, T. von 

 Weinzieki. (Ztftrlir. Laiuhi'. Vcrsiirlisir. Ofstcrr., 4 (1!>01), No. 3, pp. i273-316). — A 

 detailed rejiort is given of the investigations conducted at the station during the past 

 year. The number of seed tests made showed a decided increase over those of the 

 previous season. The visual data, are given, showing the results of purity, germina- 

 bility, presence or absence of dodder, the origin of seeds — particularly clover seed, 

 and studies on numerous varieties of seed. 



Seed separators, L. Fontaine {Rev. Vlt., 15 {1901), No. 376, pp. 242-34S,fi.g!^. 3).~ 

 A descrijition is given of a form of apparatus for the separation of seeds, the princi- 

 ple upf)n which it is ))ased In-ing the separation l>y size. 



The influence of soil on the distribution of mistletoe and cuscuta in 

 Belgium, E. Lai'rent [Bui. Agr. [i>Vns.seZ.s], 16 (1900), No. 6, 2ip- 457-510, pis. 5, 

 ma]) 1). — The author has made an extensive study of the distribution of these 2 

 parasites in Belgium. The mistletoe is reported as occurring on 122 species of plants, 

 a list of the host plants lieing given. The soils of Belgium are briefly described, 

 particular attention being paid to the lime and magnesium content. While the 

 mistletoe is not entirely confined to calcareous soils, it is found most abundant in 

 those soils containing 1 per cent or more of lime. The same distrilnition is indicated 

 for the cuscuta. Studies were made on tlie relation between the com])osition of the 

 ash of mistletoe and the ash of its host plant, and it was found that there was no 

 direct relation between the two. However, tlie nnneral su])stances pi-esent in the 

 ash of the mistletoe depend upon the host plant and the nature of the soil. In the 

 course of his investigations the author was led to examine into the cause of the infre- 

 quent occurrence of the mistletoe upon pear trees, and he claims to have found that 

 the mistletoe secretes a toxic substance which is destructive to many varieties of pear 

 trees. Inoculation experiments were made with the juice obtained by grinding up 

 the mistletoe in a mortar and adding distilled Avater to the mixture, and when a 

 f)ortion of the mixture was introduced through the bark of the pear tree it set up an 

 infection that was healed with gi-cat difficulty or remained as a ]ilace for the entrance 

 of the spores of various fungi. \\'hen the liquid was heated for 5 minutes at a tem- 

 perature of 120° C, the wounds were quickly liealed, just as was the case when dis- 

 tilled water was injected into the plant. The study of the cuscuta is not reported in 

 the same detail as that made with the mistletoe. Its distribution seems to be gov- 

 erned by the same biological factors as the mistletoe, being most abundantly present 

 upon calcareous soils. 



Destruction of charlock {.Tour. Bd. Agr. [L()ii<Jon'\,7 {1900), No. 3, pp. 353, 354). — 

 An account is given of experiments conductt'd under the ilirection of the agricultural 



