232 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The average purity of 112 samples of alfalfa seed was 97.3 per cent. The 

 average germination of the principal seeds was high. 



In a study of vitality of commercial seeds it was found that " the highest 

 germination of alsike clover, three years old, was 95 per cent, the lowest 70 

 per cent. The highest for 2-year-old seed was 92 per cent, the lowest 68 per 

 cent. The highest for 1-year-old seed was 96 per cent, the lowest 69 per cent. 

 The highest for 3-year-old seed for alfalfa was 90 per cent, the lowest 83 per 

 cent. For 2-year-old seed the highest was 92 per cent, the lowest 75 per cent. 

 For 1-year-old seed the highest was 98 per cent, the lowest 62 per cent. The 

 highest percentage of germination for 3-year-old red clover was 91 per cent, the 

 lowest 54 per cent. For 2-year-old seed the highest was 96 per cent, the lowest 

 66 per cent. For 1-year-old seed the highest was 97 per cent, the lowest 66 

 per cent." 



A study of the vitality of the hulled and unhulled timothy seeds covering a 

 period from 1909-1913, inclusive, shows that the hulled seeds averaged 61.4 per 

 cent in germination power, as compared with 90.7 per cent for the unhulled 

 seeds. 



A bibliography of 42 titles is appended. 



A manual of weeds, Ada E. Georgia {ISleio York, 191Jf, pp. XI+593, figs. 

 387). — In this book the author discusses the definition of a weed, and also 

 touches briefly upon the financial loss due to weeds, the dissemination of weeds, 

 and chemical herbicides. The bulk of the book consists of a descriptive list 

 and means of control of weeds, followed by a list of plants distinctly poisonous 

 or mechanically harmful to animal life. 



HORTICULTITRE. 



The development of gardening', with special reference to conditions in 

 Dresden, K. Hofmann (Die Entwickching der Gurtncrei unter besonderer 

 Berucksichtigung der Verhdltnisse in Dresden. Leipsic, 1913, pp. VIII-\-87, 

 pis, 30). — In this paper the author briefly reviews the history of gardening, 

 and discusses in detail the market gardening and floricultural industries in the 

 vicinity of Dresden, with special reference to their economic status in both the 

 agi'iciiltural and industrial world. 



The garden at home, H. H. Thomas (London, New York, Toronto, and Alel- 

 hourne, 1912, pp. XII +276, pis. 108). — A popular treatise on gardening, dealing 

 primarily with ornamental gardening but containing also suggestions relative 

 to the home fruit and vegetable garden. 



[Report on horticultural investigations at the Yuma Experiment Farm, 

 1913], R. E. Blair (U. S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant Indus., ^York Yuma Expt. 

 Farm, 1913, pp. 11-18, figs. 2). — A brief progress report on cultural and variety 

 tests of dates, figs, deciduous fruits and nuts, vegetables, and ornamentals being 

 conducted at the farm. 



In the work with dates seedling plants representative of nine promising 

 varieties are being grown in experimental orchards. Despite a minimum tem- 

 perature of 16° F. on January 6, 1913, it was found that 66 i^r cent of the 

 seedling plants had received less than 50 per cent of leaf injury. The remaining 

 seedlings were alive although more seriously damaged. The Smyrna Adriatic 

 fig hybrids mentioned in a previous report (E. S. R., 29, p. 338) bore their first 

 fruit during the summer of 1913. Of 1,600 seedlings in all, 54 bore and matured 

 fruits of good quality, hut owing presumably to injuries received during the 

 preceding winter 1.219 trees did not flower. Observations made during the two 

 winters show some variation in frost resistance among these seedlings. An 



