338 EXPERIMENT STATION EECOKD. 



per acre was secured after an application of 4^ tons of Icraal manure per acre, 

 but the crop was coarse in texture and bitter. The leaf secured after an appli- 

 cation of 200 lbs. of nitrate of soda, 220 lbs. of superphosphate, and 160 lbs. 

 of sulphate of potash was valued at only £14 16s. per acre, but was mild, sweet, 

 and pleasant and considered the " most hopeful of samples." 



Plats on which vaporite was sown in the hope of preventing loss from pests 

 suffered greater damage in 2 cases than the checks. The cost per acre of gi'ow- 

 ing Turkish tobacco is estimated at £15 including rent, cultivation, fertilization, 

 picking, handling, priming, and warming. 



The management of tobacco seed beds, W. M. Hinson and E. H. Jenkins 

 {Connecticut State Sta. Bui. 166, pp. 3-11, fig. 1). — This bulletin reports the 

 results of work in cooperation with the Bureau of Plant Industry of this 

 Department. It discusses the advantage of sterilizing tobacco seed beds, the 

 use of fertilizers, and the apparatus for and the operation of steam sterilizing. 



A pressure of 70 lbs. maintained for 30 minutes sufficed to kill all seeds. 

 The labor cost of sterilizing ISO sq. yds. of seed beds was $6, while that of 

 weeding 90 sq. yds. of unsterilized beds until the seedlings were pulled was $12. 

 Steam sterilization is more convenient if a boiler is at hand, and more effective 

 in killing weed seed. On a small scale the formalin treatment may be more 

 feasible and is best applied to a dry soil in the fall. 



It is stated that " the calico disease can be carried in the stems of the plants 

 infected with it," or in tobacco water prepared for them, but that no evidence 

 has been obtained to show that infection arises from stems plowed into the soil. 

 The fact that alternate plants in the row may be " calicoed " may be accounted 

 for if only one of the two workmen has handled a diseased plant. 



Other topics discussed are the rate of seeding, use of sprouted and dry seed, 

 and the watering and ventilation of seed beds. 



The burning quality of tobacco, with sugg-estions for its improvement in 

 the fiue-cured types of eastern North. Carolina and South Carolina, E. H. 

 Mathewson (Z7. /S. Dept. Agr., Bur. Plant. Indus. Doc. 629, pp. //). — Complaints 

 of the defective burning quality of certain new belt types from North and South 

 Cai-olina are thought to arise from the lack of sufficient potash in the soils on 

 which they are grown. The use of certain formulas supplying this fertilizer is 

 suggested. 



Distribution of seeds and plants, E, J. Wickson and R. E. Mansell {Cali- 

 fornia 8 fa. Seed Bui. 1910-11, pp. Jf). — This bulletin gives data as to the seed 

 distribution of the California Station from 1903 to 1910, and describes the 

 varieties of flower and vegetable seeds now on hand for distribution. 



Agricultural seeds and their weed impurities: A source of Ireland's alien 

 flora, T. Johnson and Miss R. Hensman {Sci. Proc. Roy. Dublin Soc, n. ser., 

 12 {1910), No. 33, pp. /j-'f6-^62, pis. 2).— The authors present in parallel columns 

 the results of their own investigations and those of the Ziirich Station and 21 

 different German stations. The object of the paper is to show " from what par- 

 ticular agricultural seed and region the alien weed comes, and also to indicate 

 how the alien flora of Ireland is being added to from the agricultural seeds 

 sown." A reference list of 5 titles is given. 



Beport of the seed tester, S. Treleaven {Rpt. Dept. Agr. Cape Good Hope, 

 1909, pp. 116-119).— The^e pages report the results of germination tests of tall 

 fescue, alfalfa, and tobacco seed, and purity tests of alfalfa and oat seeds. 

 Lists are also given of the useful forage plants, weeds, poisonous plants, and 

 medicinal plants submitted for identification. 



Cuscuta obtusiflora breviflora, A. I. Mal'tsey {Trudui Bijuro Prikl. Bot., 

 3 {1910), No. 8, pp. 289-308, pi. 1, figs. 2).— The author reports the occurrence 

 of this dodder on a species of pepper {Capsicum longum) in Astrakhan. 



