SEEDS WEEDS. 483 



A botanical study of sugar-beet seed, F. Todaro {Staz. Sper. Agr. ItaL, 36 

 [1903), Xo. 6, pp. 449-496). — Studies are reported on beet s^anipliiig for improvement 

 of quality, several methods being described. The influence of size and weight of seed 

 on its vitality; the effect of temperature, moisture, etc., on germination; the stimu- 

 lating effect of various substances in which the seeds were rolled, and the duration 

 of vitality of beet seed are all reported upon at considerable length. 



Report of seed testing at Modena for the year ending December, 1901, 

 F. ToD.\Ro {Staz. Sper. Agr. ItaL, 36 {1903), No. 6, pp. 497-512). — A report is given 

 of the seed testing carried on at the Royal Agricultural Seed Testing Station at 

 Modena in which 2,097 tests are enumerated. These tests were made on 975 differ- 

 ent kinds of seed, of which 813 were leguminous forage plants, 37 grasses, 71 cereals, 

 10 sugar beets, and 31 hemp. The maximum, minimum, and average percentages 

 of germination, purity, and intrinsic worth are given in tabular form, together witli 

 the percentage of dodder seed present in the samples. The weed seed found in 

 sami)les of forage-plant seed and some of the more important species, together with 

 the percentages present, are described. 



Report of the seed-control station at Vienna for 1901 {Ztschr. Landw. Ver- 

 suchsw. Oesterr., 6 {1903), No. 3, p>p. 338-394). — A report is given of the routine work 

 carried on at the seed-control station at Vienna, together with investigations at the 

 various substations connected with this institution, for the year ending December, 

 1901. 



During the period covered by this report 26,629 samjjles of seed and their prod- 

 ucts were analyzed, and 12,584 lots of seed certified to. Of these, clover, alfalfa, 

 and timothy formed the greater portion. The maximum, minimum, and average 

 germinations of all the different lots of seed tested are reported, comparisons being 

 made with the same factors for the previous year's report. Detailed statements are 

 given regarding the purity, germinative ability, presence of dodder, and special 

 examinations of beet seed, cereals, etc. 



Noxious -weeds and how to kill them, L. R. Waldeon {North Dakota Stu. Bui. 

 56, pp. :m1-24.3, ph. 5, figi>. 10). — This bulletin aims to present in a simple manner 

 information regarding the noxious weeds of North Dakota, and to give suggestions 

 for their eradication. After discussing the effect of weeds in agriculture, the author 

 calls attention to the necessity of being able to recognize the more troublesome 

 species. Methods of eradication are discussed, particular attention being paid to the 

 Russian thistle and the tumbling mustard. Other species of weeds are described, 

 those of special interest being pigeon grass, wild oats, quack grass, wdld buckwheat, 

 Russian thistle, tumbling mustard, yellow mustard, French weed, and Canada 

 thistle. 



Under the discussion of the Canada thistle a brief account is given of an experi- 

 ment to test the efficiency of frequent cutting as a means of eradicating this jjlant. 

 A i^lat of about 5 sq. rods was cut over at intervals of 4 to 7 days during the season 

 of 1903, and the number of plants counted. During the time covered by the experi- 

 ment 23 cuttings were made and the number of plants decreased from a maximum 

 of 2,000 to a minimum of 15. Other methods of eradication are discussed. 



Some common Ontario -weeds, F. C. Hakrison and W. Lochhead {Ontario Agr. 

 Cut. and Expt. Far in Bid. iriS, pp. 96, figs. 43). — An increasing demand for informa- 

 tion regarding the weeds of Ontario has led to the preparation of this bulletin to 

 supplant that issued in 1899 (E. S. R., 12, p. 1052). A number of additional weeds 

 are described, and the methods of eradication are in many instances given in greater 

 detail. More than 60 species of weeds are described, some of them being figured. 

 In addition to describing the weeds, information is given concerning w'eed seeds, and 

 a number of the more common fomid niixed with clover and grass seeds are figured 

 and described. 



