40 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.40 



being stored at room temperature in evacuated desiccators over calcium oxid 

 and concentrated sulphuric acid, and in an open vessel. Samples were with- 

 drawn at various times for moisture determinations and germination tests. 

 Observations were also made upon the rapidity of germination and the vigor 

 of the seedlings. Similar studies with Kentucky blue-grass seed, made in 1913, 

 are briefly noted. The data are presented in tabular form, and the results 

 are said to corroborate those of Pickholz (E. S. R., 25, p. 431) and Waggoner 

 (E. S. R., 38, p. 127). 



The percentage of germination was not materially changed when the seeds 

 of the different plants were dried to less than 1 per cent of moisture. The 

 percentage of germination of Kentucky blue grass and Johnson jrrass seed was 

 not affected when the moisture content was further reduced to 0.1 per cent, 

 although the vigor of the Kentucky blur grass seedlings was greatly reduced. 

 Further drying of Kentucky blue grass seed in a vacuum oven for 6 hours at 

 100° C. caused a further reduction in the vigor of the seedlings, but did not 

 materially affect the percentage of germination. With respect to the Be 

 used in these studies, the results are said to controvert Ewart's statements 

 (E. S. R., 9, p. 454) as to the degree of drying which seeds are capable of 

 withstanding and remaining viable. 



Cleaning seed (Canada I><i,t. Agr., Seed Branch Pamphlet 1 (WIS), pp. IS, 

 fifjx. 10). — This is a rather detailed description of riddles and screens Baited to 

 the cleaning of clover and grass Beed and of wheat, barley, eats, and flax, 

 together with directions for the operation and care of the fanning mill. 



The growth of sheep sorrel in calcareous and dolomitic media, W. 11. Mac- 

 Intire (Jour. Amer. Boc. Agron., 10 ylOlS), Xo. 1. pp. t9Sl, pi. n— This paper, 

 a contribution from the Tennessee Experiment Station, describes pot tests 

 conducted during 1913 and l'.'H by J. I. Hardy under the author's direction. 

 Rumex acetoseUa was grown in a medium of limestone having a lime-magnesia 

 ratio of 184:1, and of dolomite with a ratio of 10:7. The limestone and 

 dolomite percentages were 100, 75. 50, '2:>. 15, 5, 2.5, 1, 0.5, and 0. respectively. 

 the remainder in each case beinp clean river sand. Sorrel seel was first used, 

 but owing to the slow rate of growth was replaced by S stolons of equal size 

 per pot. A growing period of 101 days was allowed for the limestone series, 

 and 99 days for the dolomite series. The air-dry weight of the entire plants 

 of sorrel grown in each pot was determined and the results tabulated. 



Since the limestone pots were harvested in 1913 before seed Formed, and the 

 dolomite pots in 1914 after fructification, it was deemed inadvisable to make 

 deductions as to the influence of the Lime-magnesia ratios. The results are 

 held to indicate, however, that sorrel is capable of making a good growth in 

 strongly alkaline media when not subjected to competition with clover or other 

 lime-loving plants, thus confirming the observations of White (B. S. R., 35, 

 p. 529) and Pipal (E. S. R.. 37, p. 239). The heavy root development obtained 

 is said to demonstrate the fact that an abundance of the earthy alkali car- 

 bonates in no way inhibits the subsurface development of the plant 



HORTICULTURE. 



Vegetation and reproduction with special reference to the tomato (Lyco- 

 persicum esculentum), E. J. Kratjs and H. R. Krayiull (Oregon sta. Bui. 1 J.9 

 (1918), pp. 5-90, figs. 22). — This bulletin reports a physiological and biochemi- 

 cal investigation of tomato plants grown under different conditions of nutrient 

 and moisture supply in order to compare the internal conditions in fruiting and 

 nonfrultlng plants, with particular reference to the presence of total nitrogen, 

 nitrates, moisture, and carbohydrates and the relations between them, it com- 



