SEEDS WEEDS. 159 



value (if samples of a larire iminber of vai'ieties of field ami garden seeds, as wciU as 

 those of a iimiiber of foraire i^lants. 



Seed testing of alfalfa and medic, D. Fixi,avsox {Ai/iisouir Aijr. Sin., deorcje- 

 orcr-Sanch, Cent. tSeed-TvM'mg Lah. Fdriiier.'t' BuJ. 3, p}>. .V, jil. l) . — Illustrated notes 

 are given on i?oine of the impurities found in alfalfa and medic seed, and results of 

 tests for purity and germinative al)ility of these seeds. 



Impurities in farm seeds, (t. H. Clark {(hitario A(jr. ctud Krpl. I'liion Itpl. 

 1902, pp. 47-4'>)- — A discussion of some of the imimrities found in farm seeds, j)ar- 

 ticular attention being given to those occurring in the seeds of cereal cro})S and forage 

 ]>lants. Under the conditions described most of the weed seeds are found in oats, 

 and many of the more troublesome weeds have been distributed Avith seed oats. 

 Many Aveed seeds are distributed in timoth}% alsike, and red-clover seed, and a 

 ta1>le shows the results of a large nundaer of investigations of these seeds and the 

 ])rincipal weed seeds found in the sam2)les. 



Notes on weeds, J. W. Blankinship {Monianu Sin. Jlpl. 1902, pp. 70, 71). — Brief 

 notes are given on the occurrence and distribution of the alfalfa dodders ( ('nxnila 

 epitJd/minii and C. arvensis), a native Coreopsis, and the common dandelion. All of 

 these weeds are said to be very troublesome under Montana conditions, and sugges- 

 tions are given for their repression and warning against their introduction through 

 the use of imjiure seeds. 



Weed notes, B. D. Halsted and J. A. Kelsey {Xcn- Jersei/ Stas. lipt. 190-2, pp. 390, 

 397). — In continuation of the previous investigations on weeds (E. S. R., 14, p. 578), 

 the authors report on the relative prominence of different species of weeds in a plat 

 of ground which has been abandoned to weed growth for 6 years. The most numer- 

 ous species in order of individuals are Rume.v acetosella, Dauciin carota, Broniun racc- 

 niosus, rolygonumpennsylvanicum, Ahutilon abutilon, and Chrysanthemum leucanthemuin. 

 A number of other weeds have made their appearance, and at present the weed plat 

 contains about 30 species of plants. Brief notes are given on the occurrence of horse 

 nettle, corn chamonule, ground ivy, and ailanthus, and suggestions for their 

 eradication. 



The broom rapes, H. Gakman [Kciducky Sta. Bid. 105, pp. 32, ph. (^,fiys. 9). — 

 This bulletin is in continuation of a previous one (E. H. R., 2, p. 22). For 10 years 

 or more the author has been obsi-rving broom rajtes, and of the 16 species enumerated 

 three [Orobaiiche Indoriciaiui, O. minor, and <K ntiiioKn) are known to occur in Ken- 

 tucky. Branched broom rape (O. rnnumi) is the best-known species and thus far 

 has not been observed outside the blue-grass region. This species, which is parasitii; 

 on hemp, tobacco, tomato, potato, rape, cabbage, and other plants, is described at 

 considerable length, its habits of germination, growth, and parasitism being given in 

 detail. A number of enemies have been noted, among them being several species of 

 aphis, some of which are still under observation. The seed of broom rape are mostly 

 disseminated through sowing with hemp and other seed. The plants may be removed 

 from growing tobacco and seed hemp so as to prevent seeding and further spread. 

 Seeds of broom rape are known to retain their vitality for .at least 13 years while lying 

 in the soil. Soaking the seed with strong solutions of copper sulphate kills the broom 

 rape Avithout seriously injuring the hemp seed. Treating with Avater heated to 140° 

 F. also destroys the broom-rai)e seed without exerting any hurtful effect on the hemp. 

 The application of gas lime and copperas did not prevent the groAVth of broom rape, 

 but copper sulphate in the proportion of 1 ton to the acre checked the parasitic 

 groAvth. This has been considered too costly for field Avork. Common salt used in 

 the proportion of 2 tons to the acre destroyed Ijoth the hemp and broom rape. On 

 thi.s account it can not be used on groAving hemp, but if the ground has become badly 

 infested it could be used and after the destruction of the weed some other plant may 

 be cultiA'ated until the injurious effect of the salt disappears. 



