340 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECORD. 



spectively. In a similar test of red clover seed, tlie briglit plump seeds and dull 

 plump seeds showed germination percentages of 90.9 and 85.1 per cent, respec- 

 tively. Purity tests are also reported for alsike, clover, and timothy seeds. 



[Weeds in Ontario in 1908—9], S. B. McCready {Ann. Rpt. Ontario Agr. 

 Col. and E.rpt. Farm, 35 (1909), j)/). Sl-JfO, figs. 2). — A list is given of the most 

 troublesome weeds in Ontario as indicated by the correspondence of 1908-9. 

 Weeds recently introduced are roquette (Eruca saliva), Barnaby thistle (Cen- 

 taurea solstitialis) , bur grass, sandbur or hedgehog grass, forked catchfly 

 (Silene dichotoma), gumweed or gum plant (Grindelia sqiiarrosa), German 

 knotgrass, and buffalo bur. 



Corn cockle (Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 17 {1910), No. 1, pp. 38-45, fig. 1).— 

 These pages review fully English, (ierman, and French literature on corn 

 cockle with special reference to the descriptions of the plant and its fruit, the 

 harm done by the plant as a weed and through its poisonous seed, and means 

 of preventing it and of identifying it in foodstuffs. 



A practical method of killing' witch grass, A. J, Eaton and H. A. Edson 

 {Vermont tSta. Bui. I.'f9, pp. 419-4-'^. pis. 12, figs. 8). — Experiments indicate that 

 witch grass may be eradicated from corn fields by ridging the rows just before 

 the corn sprouts, cultivating 3 days later with an implement that will draw the 

 soil from the sides of the ridges, harrowing or weeding the same day, cultivat- 

 ing twice a week or 10 days later, weeding the same day and leveling the ridges, 

 and hand hoeing in mid-July. Thorough, shallow cultivation must be given 

 every week or 10 days at least from planting until the crop becomes too large. 



On stony loam this treatment increased the corn yield 2i tons at a cost of 

 $2.40 per ton ; on river bottom sandy loam. If tons at a cost of $5.50 per ton for 

 the increase ; on clay loam. 4J tons with an increased cost of $1.10 per ton ; 

 while on sand, an increase of f ton cost $7.30 per ton. On the treated areas the 

 ears were larger and better filled and the ears and stover averaged 0.31 and 0.11 

 per cent higher respectively in iirotein content. 



HORTICULTURE. 



The role of anesthetics and other agents in plant forcing, W. Stuaet 

 {Vermont Sta. Bill. 150, pp. 451-480, pis. 2, figs. 6). — A detailed discussion ot 

 the author's experiments in the use of anesthetics in plant forcing, summarized 

 accounts of which have been previously noted (E. S. R., 21, p. 544). 



The work here discussed is based on studies begun in the fall of 1906 for the 

 determination of the desiccating infiuence of anesthetics upon ])lants, to com- 

 pare the relative value of anesthetics and other agents in plant forcing, and to 

 determine the optimum dosage and period of treatment for various classes of 

 plants. The plants included a large number of commercial flowering shrubs 

 and bulbs. The anesthetic and nonanesthetic substances tested included ether, 

 chloroform, ethyl iodid, ethyl bromid, ethyl chlorid, methyl chlorid, methyl 

 alcohol, amyl alcohol, tetra - chlorid of carbon, and acetone. The mechanical 

 effects of vacuum and of frost were also studied. The results secured in forcing 

 lilacs, astilbe and lily-of-the-valley are rather fully discussed, and a table is 

 given showing the treatments recommended for these plants at different seasons. 



In general it has been found that the amount of anesthetic or other toxic sub- 

 stances to be used A'aries with the season of the year in which the plant is 

 treated, the period of exposure, the temperature of the enclosed air, and the 

 class of plants used. In the early and after rest periods, the dosage used should 

 be less than during the early portion of the middle rest period. The best 

 temperature at which to treat the plants is in the neighborhood of 60° F.. 

 although it niay vary between 55 and 65° without materially influencing the 



