542 EXPERIMENT STATION EECORD. [Vol.87 



Certain weed seeds Lave been designated as the " cliaracter " seeds in sam- 

 ples of red clover and alfalfa. Red clover samples from Italy were identified 

 by the presence of Hedysarum coronarium and PItalaris paradoxa. Turkestan 

 alfalfa was distinguished from alfalfa from other sources by the presence of 

 Acroptilon picris. Out of 77 tests with alfalfa of supposedly Italian origin, 75 

 contained the following distinguishing weed seeds : Helminthia echioides, Tri- 

 folium supinum, Arthrolobium scorpioides, Hedysarum coronarium, Phalaris 

 paradoxa, and Andropoyon halepensis. The author states that while no one of 

 these seeds can be regarded as characteristic as in the case of red clover, yet 

 the weed flora as a whole is characteristic. 



The origin of well-cleaned seed and mixed seed was obviously diflacult to 

 determine. 



The disinfection of seeds with bromin, V. Abtstkhovskii (Abcichovskij) 

 and V. Stom {Zap. Sta. Isp. Stem. Imp. Bot. Sad. {Ann. Inst. Essais Semences 

 Jard. Imp. Bot. Pierre Grand), S {1915), No. 2, pp. 15, figs. 6).— The authors 

 present data regarding the treatment of the seed of pumpkins, beans, peas, 

 corn, flax, and wheat with 1 per cent bromin water for varying lengths of time. 

 Their conclusion is that a 1 per cent bromin solution applied to the seed for 

 half an hour will prove sufficient. See also a previous note (E. S. R., 35, 

 p. 444). 



Investigations in 1914 on the weeds occurring in the Government of 

 Kherson, Russia, I. I'aciioskii (Paczosky) {Trudy Biuro Prikl. Bot. {Bui. 

 Appl. Bot.), 8 {1915), No. 6, pp. 816-820; abs. in Intcrnat. Inst. Ayr. [Rome}, 

 Intemat. Rev. Sci. and Pratt. Ayr., 7 {1916), No. 6, pp. 90S, .904).— The object 

 of these investigations was to devise a method for the study of field weeds 

 and to study the root system of the weeds peculiar to the region. 



The author holds that the only practical method for determining the degree 

 to which a field is infested with weeds is to confine the ob.servations to one or a 

 few selected plats, after a careful examination of the actual field conditions. 



The roots of Cirsium arvense were found to reach a depth of 20 ft. ; those of 

 Euphorbia viryata, 9.84 ft.; of E. ylariosa, 8.53; of Ceutaurea scabiosa and 

 Salvia nemorosa, 7.22 ft. ; of Reseda lutca, 9.18 ft. ; and of ilelandrium album-, 

 6.9 ft. 



Crowfoot (Ranunculus arvensis), .T. B. Martin {Compt. Rend. Acad. Ayr. 

 France, 2 {1916), No. IS, pp. 420-Ji24)- — A brief note on the occurrence and 

 habit of growth of crowfoot. Suggestions are made for its control, and the 

 value of copper sulphate, copper sulphate and sodium nitrate, and ferrous 

 sulphate in combating the weed is discussed. Ferrous sulphate is reported as 

 giving the best results. 



The flea-seed, a new weed plant, T. G. B. Osbobn {Jour. Depf. Ayr. So. 

 Aust., 20 {1916), No. 5, pp. S60-362, fly. /).— This is a brief note on the appear- 

 ance of flea-seed {Plantayo psyllitim) in South Australia. 



[Notes on species of Xanthium and their destruction] {Instrurriones sobre 

 el "Abrojo Qrande" y su destruccidn. Buenos Aires: Min. Ayr., 1915, pp. 12, 

 figs. 7). — Brief descriptive notes are given on a composite of A", macrocarpum, 

 X. italiciim, and X. strumarium, with suggestions for its eradication. 



HORTICULTURE. 



The plant introduction gardens of the Department of Agriculture, P. H. 

 DoKSETT {V. S. Dept. Ayr. Yearbook 1916, pp. lS5-l4-i< P's- 10). — A descriptive 

 account of the plant introduction field stations or gardens situated at Miami 

 and Brooksville, Fla., Chico, Cal., Yarrow, near Rockville, Md., and Belling- 

 ham, Wash., including information relative to methods of preventing the Intro- 



