DISEASES OF PLANTS. 49 



The germination of weed seeds, L. II. PAjrMEL and G. M. Lummik {Proc. Soc. 

 I'roin. Aijr. Sri. WO:], j^p- iS'S-.9.,-'). — For several years the authors have been carrying 

 on investigations in weed studies, paying particular attention to the germination of 

 weed seed. In the report given the results of experiments on the germination of 

 weed seeds are noted, the germinative power of the seed immediately after maturity, 

 after ])eing stratified, and also of mature and immature seed being tested. It was 

 found that most of the weed seeds would not germinate readily in the autumn after 

 their production; some ])iennials and winter annuals, as shepherd's purse, dandelion, 

 prickly lettuce, burdock, and others, being exceptions to the rule. A munber of 

 recently matured seed tested in a Geneva germinating apparatus failed to give any 

 germinations, while the same seed stratified in sand and allowed to freeze germi- 

 nated readily. The results of the germination of weed seed on a bench in a green- 

 house, and also the results of stratification of the same seed are shown in tabular 

 form. 



Loco weed, L. E. Sayre (Tram. Knm. Aaid. Sci., IS (1903), j)p. I41-144). — A 

 review is given of the popular beliefs regarding the loco weed { AfttrdfjaJus moUisrA- 

 inus) and statements given regarding observations of the author an<l others upon its 

 alleged poisonous properties. Attempts have been made to is )late alkaloids from 

 this plant, but the results showed that the amount present was so small that the 

 so-called locoism could not be produced by any alkaloid formed in the plant. The 

 author thinks possibly some changes are undergojie in the digestive tract of the 

 animal that may result in the formation of some ])oisonous compounds, and this 

 subject is to be one of further investigation. 



Weeds, L. li. Waldrox [XortJi Dakoia Sta. Spec Jhd. ^, pp. 4)- — This l)u]letin 

 consists of a circular asking information regarding the distribution of weeds, their 

 relative importance, means of dissemination, and methods of eradication. The 

 information sought is preliminary to an extended study of the subject of weeds and 

 thfii' <()ntrol. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



Combating' smut of cereals, S. TorouKov (Zliur. Ojyidfn. Agron. \_Jnur. E.rjf. 

 L((ii(hr.], 4 {1903) , Xo. J, pp. 5S-G4)- — Results of experiments in treating summer 

 wheat and millet for the prevention of smut are given. Thesb crops seem to be very 

 subject to the destructive effect of smut, especially in the southwestern i:)art of Russia. 

 Preliminary experiments Avith soaking seed in \ per cent solution of copper sulphate 

 gave excellent results with summer wheat, less than 3 per cent of the crop pro- 

 duced from treated seed being affected as comijared witli 13.8 per cent of that from 

 untreated. This treatment was continued for about 16 hours and proved somewhat 

 detrimental to the germination of the seed. In subsequent investigations the author 

 has found that soaking millet seed 5 minutes in a 1 per cent solution of copper sul- 

 phate was efhcient in reducing the amount of smut and did not seriously depreciate 

 the germination of the seed. In an experiment reported, the seed treated as above 

 produced a crop about 4 per cent of which was more or less attacked by smut and 

 the total yield of seed was about 1,876 lbs. per acre, while similar plats sown with 

 untreated seed were attacked to the extent of 56.3 per cent and yielded only 960 lbs. 

 of seed per acre. For the practical treatment of seed for the prevention of smut the 

 author recommends dii)ping the seed inclo.sed in coarse sacks, which contain about 

 25 lbs. each, for 5 minutes in a 1 per cent copper sulphate solution, after which the 

 seed is removed and may be dried. 



Wheat smut experiments in 1901, W. Farrer {A(jr. daz. New Sontli Wulea, 

 14 {1903), No. 3, pp. 206-216). — In continuation of previous experiments (E. 8. R., 

 13, p. 659) the author has been investigating the subject of the prevention of stinking 

 smut of wheat. The resistance of different varieties to this disease has been investi- 

 gated, and wide variation was o])served in the behavior of the varieties at different 



