532 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



ing quantities of the cereals aud weed seed. The largest quantity of weed seed 

 used showed a marked injurious effect on the grain and straw production, caus- 

 ing from one-fourth to one-third decrease in yields. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Manual of colonial horticulture, A. Chevalier, P. Teissonnieb, and O. 

 Gaille (V^g. Utiles Afriques Trop. Franc, No. 8 (1913), pp. XXXVII+/,35, 

 figs. 36). — ^A popular cultural and descriptive manual of tropical plants and 

 temperate climate plants adapted for culture in the Tropics, including vege- 

 tables, fruits, flowers, shrubs, and ornamental trees. A note on the culture of 

 vegetables in the French Sudan, together with a bibliography of general works 

 and special publications on tropical cultures, is appended. 



A study of monocotyls relative to the growth of cuttings and grafting, 

 O. Schubert {CentU. Bakt. letc.1, 2. Aht., 38 (1913), No. 13-18, pp. 309-U3, 

 figs. 22). — The author here reports in detail a study of asexual reproduction 

 in the superficial organs of monocotyls. The investigation, which was con- 

 ducted at the plant physiological laboratory at Munich daring 1909 and 1910, 

 included the actual propagation of various monocotyls accompanied by a mi- 

 croscopical study of anatomical conditions in the cuttings aud grafts, together 

 with a review of the literature on the subject. A bibliography is appended. 



In discussing the phenomenon of regeneration the plants are considered ac- 

 cording to the nature and mode of their reproduction. The following three 

 types of reproduction by cuttings are recognized: Cuttings in which root for- 

 mation takes place on the shoot axis itself, either from adventitious roots or 

 from latent roots already present ; those in which the roots develop at the base 

 of the side shoots ; and those in which roots develop on the leaves. Variations 

 within these types are also considered. 



Summing up the past and present results secured in grafting experiments 

 with monocotyls the author concludes that thus far a successful method of 

 grafting has not been evolved. 



Has sulphur a direct growth effect on plants? W. Janicaud {Oartemoelt, 

 18 {191 Jf), No. 3, pp. 29-32, figs. 4). — In pot experiments with tomato plants 

 conducted at the horticultural experiment station at Miilhausen, Alsace, sul- 

 phur was used as a fertilizer, both alone and in combination. 



As compared with the growth of plants receiving no fertilizer, sulphur used 

 alone at the rate of 2 gm. of flowers of sulphur to 1 kg. of soil appeared to 

 have a somewhat deleterious effect on growth. On the other hand, when used 

 in combination either with ammonium sulphate or with a complete fertilizer 

 a much greater growth was secured than where either of these was used with- 

 out sulphur. Determination of the dry substance in the various plants as 

 made by Gronover appeared to confirm these results. Likewise a bacterio- 

 logical investigation by Hiltner indicates that sulphur has a favorable influ- 

 ence on the development of bacteria in soils. 



Hotbeds, L. G. Herbon {Oklahonui Sta. Circ. 23 (1913), pp. 8, figs. 5).— This 

 circular contains instructions for the construction, care, and management of 

 hotbeds, including details relative to the cost of construction. 



The chayote (Sechium edule), I. Baldbati (Agr. Colon. [Italy], 8 {1914), 

 No. 1, pp. 38-55, figs. 2).— An account of the chayote with reference to its 

 botany, varieties, culture, food value, and methods of preparing for the table. 

 A bibliography is included. 



Kale fertilizers, T. C. Johnson (Virginia Truck Sta. Bui. 9 (1913), pp. 175- 

 203, figs. Ji).— This bulletin gives the plan in detail of a combined fertilizer, 

 soil management, and cropping system experiment with truck crops started by 



