444 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. [Vol.35 



For the subhumid section this variety is regarded as comparing very favor- 

 ably with the principal spring wheats. In the semiarid section it was found 

 that the durum wheats generally outyield the commonly grown spring wheats, in- 

 cluding Marquis. The variety is not recommended for the arid sections nor for any 

 district west of the Rocky Mountains either witli or without irrigation. It 

 was shown that Marquis is a first-class milling wheat. 



The disinfection of seeds, V. M. Archikhovskii (V. Arcichovskij) (Zap. 

 Sta. Isp. Stem. Imp. Bot. Sad. {Ann. Infsi. Essai.<< Semcnces Jard. Imp. Bot. 

 Pierre Grand), 2 {1915), No. 6, pp. 107, pi. 1, figs. 7).— Historical notes on the 

 study of seed disinfection are presented, the autiior's method of pur.suing the 

 work is outlined, and the results secured are reported and discussed. A r(5sume 

 of the article is given in French and a list of 64 references to literature on the 

 subject is appended. 



Different kinds of seeds, including peas, corn, and beans, were treated with 

 solutions of corrosive sublimate, silver nitrate, sulphuric, concentrated hydro- 

 chloric, concentrated nitric, chromic, and osmic acids, bromin, chlorin, chlorid 

 of lime, acidulated chlorid of lime, iodin, hydrogen peroxid, formalin, phenol, 

 and soft soap. It is concluded from the results that it is possible to disinfect 

 seeds without destroying their germinative properties, and that chemical sub- 

 stances such as concentrated acids and certain active, especially oxidizing sub- 

 stances such as hydrogen peroxid, chlorin, and bromin, are adapted to the dis- 

 infection of seeds. It is stated that in using concentrated acids the organisms 

 on the surface of the seeds are killed before the acids can penetrate into the 

 seeds and destroy their germinability, and that in the case of oxidizing dis- 

 infectants the substances absorbed after the seeds are sterilized are not 

 injurious. 



Weeds in the poppy fiields of Volhynia and Podolia, K. W. Kamenskii 

 (Kamensky) {Zap. Sta. Isp. Stem Imp. Bot. Sad. {Ann. Samenpriif. Anst. K. 

 Bot. Gart. Peter Grossen), 2 {IBlJf), No. 2, pp. 25).— The results of a study by 

 which the principal species of weeds occurring in the poppy fields of the two 

 governments were determined are reported. Lists of the weeds are given in 

 tabular form, and the frequency of occurrence of the different species is indi- 

 cated. 



The more common species were Amnranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album, 

 and Setaria glauca. Galeopsis ladamim was also found in both regions, and 

 Oxalis stricta appeared to be characteristic of Volhynia. Seeds of Datura 

 stramonium, Xanthium strumarium, and X. spinosum, weeds growing along the 

 roadsides, were also found in the poppy seed. 



HORTICULTURE. 



The Australian gardener, revised by F. A. Falknek {Melbourne: F. H. 

 Brunning Printery, Ltd., 1916, 18. ed., pp. [S]+47i, pis. 9, figs. 38). — A manual 

 of information relative to ornamental and vegetable gardening and fruit culture 

 in Victoria, including also a brief section devoted to general farm crops. 



Gardening investigations, H. Schmid {Landio. Jahrb. Schweiz, 29 {1915), 

 No. 5, pp. 592-601. fig. 1) . — A brief progress report on cultural and breeding 

 investigations with flowers, vegetables, and strawberries conducted at the 

 Wadensweil Station during 1913 and 1914. 



The acclimation of plants and their adaptation to soil by means of graft- 

 ing, J. B. Dental {Rev. Hort. [Paris], 88 {1916), No. 3, pp. 47-49).— The 

 author enumerates a number of plants which he has successfully adapted to 

 different soil conditions by grafting on certain stocks. 



