144 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



readily recognized by the expert, though most of them would be unobserved or 

 ruljnowTi to the farmer. Moreover, the quality of the germination process is 

 precisely indicated under the uniform conditions which can be secured at such 

 an institution." 



The application of the precipitin method in testing seeds, Zade {Fiihling's 

 Landw. Ztg., 61 {1912), 2S^o. 23, pp. 801-810).— The method described in this 

 paper is essentially that used in the treatment of certain animal diseases. A 

 salt solution extract of the meal of a given seed variety gave the customary 

 reaction or precipitate with the precipitin prepared by the use of the solution 

 of that variety, and gave different reactions with different varieties. American 

 clovers and Italian clovers of the same variety gave different reactions. 



The author points out the advantage this method will have in determining 

 the variety in seeds whose outward appearance present no differences of 

 identification, as well as the origin of varieties after it has been further tested. 



The adulteration and misbranding of the seeds of Kentucky blue grass, 

 redtop, and orchard grass, B. T. Gai^loway (Z7. (S. Dept. Agr., Office Sec. Circ. 

 JfS, pp. 6). — In continuation of the seed inspection (E. S. R., 27, p. 141), 1344 

 samples were examined during 1912. Of 499 samples of Kentucky blue grass, 

 62 were found to be either adulterated or misbranded, and 36 contained less' 

 than 3 per cent of it. Of 538 samples of redtop, 115 were found to be adul- 

 terated with timothy, and of 307 samples obtained as orchard grass, 7 were 

 found to be adulterated and 3 were rye grass. 



Seed inspection iMai7W Sta. Off. Insp. .'f6, pp. 12). — The chief requirements 

 of the Maine law are stated and results of the 1912 inspection reported much 

 as in previous years (E. S. R., 26, p. 838). A list of drug and food prose- 

 cutions is appende<l. 



Report of seed tests for 1912, O. I. Tillman, {Bui. N. C. Dept. Agr., SS 

 {1912), No. 10, pp. J/J, figs. 2). — Tabulated results of these tests are given, 

 with comments upon cleaning tobacco seed and the standard of purity required 

 by the state seed act. 



The study of agricultural seeds, W. Borlase {Jour. Bd. Agr. [London], 19 

 {1912), No. 7, pp. 529-541, figs. 5). — The results of analyses of seeds here re- 

 ported show that of red clover seed the higher-priced seed was the more eco- 

 nomical. Grass mixtures showed adulteration ranging from 3.73 to 8.3 per 

 cent. In low-grade seeds adulteration ran as high as 58.3 per cent. 



The Indiana weed book, W. S. Blatchley {Indianapolis, Ind., 1912, pp. 191, 

 figs. 139). — The first 50 pages of this book treat of such general subjects as dis- 

 tribution of weed seeds, how weeds lessen the output of the farm, benefits of 

 weeds, classification of weeds according to life period, general rules for ex- 

 terminating weeds, keeping the farm clear, and parts of a weed, including a key 

 to families of weeds. The remainder of the work is a descriptive catalogue of 

 Indiana weeds. 



Goose grass (Galium aparine), W. Wiedersheim {Arb. Deut. Landw. Gescll., 

 1912, No. 203, pp. 29, pis. 11). — This gives results of experiments and discusses 

 the economic value of this plant as a weed, giving a description, its occurrence, 

 life history, the damage it causes, and methods of combating it. 



Single plants were found to yield from 180 to 510 seeds. When thrown into 

 water from 92 to 95 per cent sank immediately, and of those that floated only 

 from 6 to 10 per cent germinated. In a germination test with garden soil, field 

 soil, leaf mold, peat, sand, and sawdust, the average results ranged from 20 per 

 cent in the sawdust to 90 per cent in gai'den soil. 



The weed was found to occur 24 times in grain and cultivated fields as com- 

 pared with 52 times in waste places. The chief injury to crops seemed to be 

 in weighting down the maturing grain, and the admixture of the seeds injured 



