HORTICULTUKB. 741 



Seeds which were mechanically treated usually germinated first, but the 

 total germination was less than with other treatments. 



Seed analyses, J. P. Helyar (Vcnnont Sta. Bui. 170, pp. 135, 136).— This 

 comprises notes on purity and germination tests of 45 samples of alfalfa, alsike 

 clover, red clover, rcdtop, and timothy seeds. 



Result of seed tests for 1912, F. W. Taylor (Neiv Hampshire Sta. Btil. 164, 

 pp. 15). — This bulletin gives the results of seed tests made from July 1, 1911, to 

 December 1, 1912. It is noted that there has been a steady decrease in the 

 number of samples sent in for testing during the past 2 years, but that the 

 purity and vitality of the samples show improvement. The text of the New 

 Hampshire seed law and advice to senders of samples are appended. 



Sug'g'estions for the identification of the " seeds " of quack grass (Agro- 

 pyron repens), western wheat grass (A. smithii), and slender wheat grass 

 (A. tenerum), J. T. Sarvis {Brookings, 8. Dak., 1913, pp. 6, figs. 3).— This 

 paper suggests the identification of these grasses as follows: For Agropyron 

 repens, the rachilla puberulent, each hair usually conspicuously glandular at 

 its base, the palea glabrous except at the tip, but glandular, and hairs pro- 

 nounced at the tip of the palea and inside the tip of the lemma ; for A. smithii, 

 the rachilla puberulent but not so glandular as in A. repens, the palea hispid 

 all over its front and not so conspicuously glandular as in A. repens; and for 

 A. tenerum, the rachilla villous, and the tip of palea puberulent. 



Concerning certain pasture weeds, A. H. Gilbert {Vermont Sta. Bui. 170, 

 pp. 127-130). — This article notes the spread of the shrubby cinquefoil {Poten- 

 tilla fruticosa) in Vermont (E. S. R., 15, p. 1085) and that the weed was found 

 to be killed when its roots come in contact with the roots of butternut trees. 

 The tree roots seemed to be attracted by the weed and grew in the direction of 

 weed clusters. No explanation of these results is offered. 



Moss as a pasture weed, J. J. Tracy {Vermont Sta. Bui. 170, pp. ISO, 131). — 

 This article gives the results of the use of lime, wood ashes, and nitrate of 

 soda in eradicating a group of mosses known as " hair caps," especially 

 Poliitrichnm commune. Nitrate of soda proved the most successful in killing 

 out the weed and restoring grass to the pasture land. 



The ensiling of weeds, R. M. Washburn {Vermont Sta. Bui. 170, pp. 131- 

 IS'i). — In an attempt to discover the efi:ect on germination of ensiling seeds, 

 samples of a large number of seeds of grain, grasses, legumes, weeds, etc.. were 

 placed in sacks distributed in a silo as it was being filled. A maximum 

 thermometer was placed with each stack and the seeds remained in the silo 

 for periods ranging from 2 to 22 months. 



Germination tests, made upon removing the seeds from the silo as the silage 

 was fed out, showed the seeds to be dead in nearly every case. In one 

 instance alsike and white clover showed a 5 per cent germination, and in 

 a few cases alsike clover, crab grass, sorghum, red clover, alfalfa, wormseed 

 mustard, and Amaranthus sp. showed a 1 per cent germination. The regis- 

 tered temperature ranged from 24 to 45.5° C. 



The author concludes that the ensiling process, even under conditions when 

 temperatures do not rise to a high point, serve to destroy the viability of the 

 seeds of the more common weeds of this section. 



HORTICULTITRE. 



The relation of light to greenhouse culture, G. E. Stone {Massachusetts 

 Sta. Bui. i44. PP- 3-.'f0, figs. 9). — This bulletin reports investigations of various 

 factors which influence the amount and intensity of light in greenhouses. 

 The experimental work is introduced by a brief discussion of the physiological 



