822 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



SEEDS— WEEDS. 



Distribution of seeds, plants, cuttings, etc., E. J. Wickson [Cali- 

 fornia ,Sfa. Rpt. J893 and 1894, pp. 343-363, fig. 1).—A report is oiven of 

 the distribution by the station of seeds, plants, cuttings, etc., since 

 1890, the details of the offerings having appeared in Bulletins 95, 98, 

 and 103 of the station (E. S. E., 3, p. 444; 4, p. 557; 5, p. G83). Statis- 

 tics are given of the distributions since 1880, showing that there were 

 sent out 52,310 plants and cuttings and 40,457 ounces of seed. Brief 

 reports are given by the voluntary experimenters on the materials 

 sent out. A list of donations to the station since December, 1892, is 

 a])peu(lcd. 



Some Oregon weeds, M. CRAia [Oregon Sta. Bui. 32, pp. 99-116, 

 figs. 9). — The author gives illustrated descriptive notes on 5 trouble- 

 some weeds, as follows : Canada thistle [Cnicus arvensis), bull thistle [C. 

 lanceolatus), sow thistle [Sonchus arvensis), spiny or dagger cockle bur 

 [Xanthium spinosum), and Eussian thistle [l^alsola Jcali tragus). The 

 State laws relating to the destruction of Canada thistle and dagger 

 cockle bur are given, and in addition to the ones enumerated above 

 the author suggests that the laws be modified to include French pink 

 [Centaurea cyanus), dog fennel [Anthemis cotula), tarweed [^ladia spi).), 

 white mustard [Brassica campestris), oxeye daisy [Chrysanthemum leii- 

 eanthemum), and moth mullein [VerJjascum hlattaria). 



Directions are given for the destruction of weeds in general, with spe- 

 cific directions for the 5 species particularly mentioned in the bulletin. 



Germination of black •walnuts and acorns, G. B. Sud worth (Ga7-den and Forest, 

 8 [1S95), pp. 105, 106). — The author accounts for the proloDged vitality of seeds 

 deeply planted as due to the probably accidental but proper adjustment of moisture 

 conditions. 



The vitality of seed, A. Peter [Nachrichten Kl. Ges. wissen^ch. GUttbujen ; ahs. in 

 Nature, 51 [1S95), Feb.SS, p. 422). — The author gives the results of a second series of 

 cultural experi/nents with dormant seeds taken from various depths in the soil of 

 woodlands or forest. "The forest in question was the site of villages and cultiva- 

 tion that disappeared several centuries ago; and some of the samples were taken 

 from a dense forest, 100 to 1.50 j^ears old, under the shade of which there has been 

 no surface vegetation for years. The principal 7)oint to investigate was the proba- 

 ble existence of seeds of cornfield weeds still possessing the power of germinating 

 and developing into reproductive plants. The author succeeded in raising a large 

 number of plants belonging to about 50 species, including some of the weeds of cul- 

 tivation ; and he believes he lias good grounds for supposing that many pasture plants 

 and cornfield weeds retain their vitality for more than a half century, under the 

 conditions he describes." 



On the seeds of Moabi, H. Lecomte and A. Hebert (Compt. Rend., 120 {1S95), 

 No. 7, pp. 374-377). 



On the seeds of the Coula of the French Congo, H. Lecomte and A. HiSbert 

 [Compt. Bend., 120 {1S95), No. 4, pp. 200-202). 



Methods of planting and destroying Bermuda grass, C. L. Newman [Arkansas 

 Sta. Rept. 1S94, pp. 103-10S).—A reprint from Bulletin 28 of the station (E. S. R., 6, 

 p. 430). 



