534 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOKD. 



90|U. The starch grains in the endosperm of the small seeds of C. suaveoJens 

 were massed together and measured about Ifi ; those of the large seeds of 

 C. trifoJii were single and measured about 4^*. 



The weed Galinsoga parviflora. K. Muxleb (Arh. Dent. Landic. Gesell., No. 

 272 (1914), pp. 31, pis. 6). — This article treats of the characteristics of this 

 weed, and discusses its development, vegetative requirements, and methods of 

 seed distribution. Methods of eradication are described, and its useful as well as 

 its undesirable qualities and legislative regulations for its control in Germany 

 are noted. 



Methods of determining weight per bushel, H. H. Love (Jour. Amer. Soc. 

 Agran.. 7 (1915), No. 3, pp. 121-128. pi. 1). — This describes an apparatus de- 

 signed by H. W. Teeter, and presents data showing that by its use it is possible 

 to make comparable all weight per bushel results. 



A method for testing the breaking strength of straw, B. C. Helmick (Jour. 

 Amer. Soc. Agron.. 7 {1915). No. 3. pp. 118-120. ph 1. fig. i).— This describes 

 an apparatus for determining the breaking strength of straw and gives some 

 data showing its satisfactory use. 



HORTICULTURE. 



[Report of horticultural investigations] {Montana Sta. Rpt. 191^, pp. 395- 

 397). — Measiirements of fruit trees on the cultural test plats at the horticul- 

 tural substation in the Bitter Boot Valley show that those on the plat cropped 

 with potatoes have made the best growth since planting in 190S. Those on the 

 clover plat where the crop has been cut and left on the ground rank next in 

 growth, and those on the clean cultivated plats rank third. The trees on the 

 cultivated plat are now beginning to show rosette, indicating that while the 

 young trees may thrive for a time under clean cultivation bearing trees can 

 not be expected to continue in good condition under such a system of culture. 



Of the apple varieties being tested at this substation the Newtown Pippin 

 and the Spitzenburg have been eliminated as maturing too late. The varieties 

 of apples which have been so seriously affected by blight as to render them 

 of doubtful value for commercial planting are Opalescent. Jonathan. Winter 

 Banana. Wismer Desert, Wagener, and Wealthy. Practically all bearing pear 

 trees were killed by blight during the summer of 1914. The varieties repre- 

 sented were Bartlett, Seckel. Clapp. and Flemish Beauty. 



A test of mulching as compared with cultivation in growing vegetables with- 

 out irrigation has been carried on at the home station. The following vegetables 

 were gi'own under cultivation and under straw mulch : Beets, cabbage, carrots, 

 cauliflower, cucumbers, endive, kohl-rabi. lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas, pump- 

 kins, radishes, rutabagas, salsify, spinach, squash, sweet com. Swiss chard, 

 tomatoes, and turnips. With the exception of cabbage, in which the yield and 

 the weight of heads, especially of the later varieties, were increased by mulch- 

 ing and of the late root crops in which the yield and quality were improved 

 by mulching, cultivation seemed to give the best results. The straw mulch 

 conserved more moisture than the cultivation but during warm weather re- 

 duced the soil temperature as much as 10° F. during the warmer part of the 

 day. Under the climatic conditions at the station temperature seemed to be 

 as important a factor as soil moisture in crop growth. 



Some cultural experiments were conducted with celery. The seed started in 

 greenhouses on February 14 produced an average of 30 per cent of seed stalks. 

 while the same varieties started on March 14 produced a fraction over 1 per 

 cent of seed stalks. Early plantings grown on very rich soil produced 3S per 

 cent of seed stalks, while seed from the same stock planted in medium soil 



