140 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.35 



and that it Is not as good a milling wheat as many other widely grown varieties. 

 It is further concluded that Stoner wheat does not differ essentially in value 

 from many other wheats now widely grown in the eastern United States. The 

 variety did not outyield all varieties in any of the tests made nor did it rank 

 above all others in tillering capacity. The use of 20 to 30 lbs. of seed per 

 acre was found insufficient for the production of maximum yields. 



The seed field, H. L. Bolley {North Dakota Sta. Circ. 12 {1916), pp. J,).— 

 Brief popular directions are given for growing seed of different farm crops 

 on the farm.' 



Agricultural seed, G. P. Burns {Vermont Sta. Bui. 192 {1916), pp. 3~40).— 

 A report is made in tabular form on the analysis of 343 samples of agri- 

 cultural seed offered for sale in the open markets of Vermont. The guarantied 

 and actual purity percentages and the approximate number of weed seeds in 

 a pound are given, together with the amount of ergoted grain found in the 

 timothy and red-top samples. In discussing the results of the inspection it is 

 pointed out that of 337 samples 204 were equal to or better and 133 were 

 below the standard of purity proposed by this Department. A synopsis of 

 the Vermont seed law setting forth the duties of the wholesaler, retailer, and 

 the station is presented, and advice to the farmer regarding the purchase of 

 seed and the use to be made of the seed analyses published by the station 

 ■under the law is given. 



How seed testing helps the farmer, E. Brown {U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook 

 1915, pp. 311-316, pU. 2). — The inefficiency of certain state seed laws is pointed 

 out in this article, together with the influence of the enforcement of the 

 federal seed importation act on the quality of imported seeds. Some of the 

 practices in adulterating seeds are briefly noted. A list of publications of this 

 Department which bear on the testing of seeds is given. It is stated that 

 seed testing helps the farmer by telling him what part of the seed is alive, 

 of what kinds it consists, and how many weed seeds it contains, and also by 

 furnishing the means of discovering and preventing tlie sale of adulterated 

 and low-grade seeds. 



It is reported that tests of samples of foreign seed showed that between 

 July 1, 1914, and October 1, 1915, over 300,000 lbs. of light-weight orchard 

 grass seed was imported which contained an average of only 28 per cent of 

 seed, the remainder being chaff and dirt. Nearly 2,500,000 lbs. of crimson 

 clover seed imported during the 6 months following April 1, 1915, contained 

 an average of only .54 per cent of live seed, and of this quantity the germina- 

 tion of 500,000 lbs. averaged but 38 per cent. It is also mentioned that in 

 the spring of 1915 the importation of rape seed resulted in market supplies 

 of three distinct plants sold as winter rape: (1) Winter rape, a biennial 

 forage crop with fleshy, succulent roots, furnishing an abundance of forage 

 the first year and seeding the second year after planting; (2) oil-seed rape 

 similar to winter rape in its early stages but maturing seed in midsummer of 

 the first year of growth; and (3) turnip rape, an oil seed producing turnip 

 of but little forage value as compared with winter rape. 



HORTICULTUEE. 



China, a fruitful field for plant exploration, F. N. Meyer {U. S. Dept. 

 Agr. Yearbook 1915, pp. 205-221,, pis. 8, fig. 1).— This comprises a popular 

 rPsumC of the author's explorations in China in search of information relative 

 to plant industries and plant material that might be adapted to conditions in 

 the United States. 



