836 EXPEEIMENT STATION KECORD. 



Inheritance of awn color in wheats, L. Kiessling et al. (Landw. Jahrb. 

 Bayern, ^ {191ft), No. 2, pp. 102-170). — This work reviews previous investiga- 

 tions along this line and gives the results of studying the inheritance of the 

 white, yellow, light brown, and brown colors in the awns of wheats hybridized 

 primarily for other purposes, since 1908. These colors or the factors producing 

 them seem to have followed the theoretical ratios very closely, i. e., 1 : 3, 

 l:3:3:9andl:3(X3) :9(X3) : 27. 



Report of the division of agronomy and botany for 1915, J. L. Burgess 

 {Bui. N. C. Dept. Acjr., 36 {1915), No. 9, pp. 4-82) .—'Results are given of the 

 examination and testing of 1,011 samples of farm seeds and 445 samples of 

 vegetable seeds during 1915 according to the North Carolina Pure Seed Act. 

 : A device for sampling grain, seeds, and other material, E. G. Boeknek 

 (Z7. /Sf. Dept. Agr. Bui. 287 {1915), pp. 4, figs. 6).— This bulletin gives a descrip- 

 tion of the mechanical structure and method of operation of a device " de- 

 veloped primarily to meet the demands of grain and seed dealers and laboratory 

 workers for securing a reliable sample of grain or seed from a larger portion 

 of the material to be examined, graded, or analyzed. It can also be used for 

 sampling flour, meal, feeds, coal, ore, or any other material of like kind for 

 examination or analysis and to mix or blend and divide two or more streams 

 of unlike material of the kind specified, so that tlie two resulting streams will be 

 a thorough mixture of the original two or more kinds of material. Anotlier 

 application of the device which should be of special interest to the grain trade 

 is that a sample can be divided so that one-half can be used for testing and 

 grading and the duplicate half either turned over to the seller or to the buyer 

 of the grain or retained for future reference." 



The operation of the device does not require power of any kind, gravity being 

 all that is necessary to make the material pass through it. 



Eradication of ferns from pasture lands in the eastern United States, H. R. 

 Cox {U. S. Dept. Agr., Farmers' Bui. 687 {1915), pp. 12, figs. 8).— This gives 

 results of experiments conducted in southern New York to eradicate the hay- 

 scented fern {Dennstcedtia ptmctilobula) . It was found that cutting off the 

 tops close to the surface of the ground twice a year for two years would kill 

 out nearly all of the ferns. 



Experiments were made in 1912 and 1913 to test the efficacy of spraying as 

 compared with cutting and to learn the best method of obtaining a stand of 

 grass and clover on the fern-infested areas. The spray materials used were 

 solutions of salt, arsenite of soda, and iron sulphate. These materials were 

 used in quantities of equal value. The results of these tests showed the follow- 

 ing facts: 



" Salt is the best spray material of the three. With ferns at an average 

 degi'ee of thickness on the land, 150 lbs. of salt dissolved in 60 gal. or more 

 of water to the acre for each application are sufficient. Two sprayings a year 

 are about as effective as four, and are to be recommended. Cutting is some- 

 what cheaper than spraying. Furthermore, the cutting does not interfere with 

 young clover and grass coming in on the infested patches after the first treat- 

 ment. This method, therefore, is to be recommended in preference to spraying 

 in most situations. In some places the land is so stony as to interfere with 

 cutting, in which case spraying may be the best method. It was found that 

 scattering seed on the patches where ferns had grown was the most important 

 means of getting a stand of grass and clover, and that liming and fertilizing 

 in addition to the seeding were of considerable benefit." 



It is noted that similar methods would probably be equally effective in eradi- 

 cating the brake {Pteris aquilina). 



