SEEDS WEEDS. 



683 



Sainfoin, D. Finlayson {Aynsome Agr. Sta., Grange-over-Sands, Cent. Seed-Testing 

 Lab. Fanner.'^' Bid. 4, PP- 7, figs. 8). — A description is given of a sainfoin {Onobrychis 

 saliva) and its variety, the giant sainfoin. Descriptive notes are given of the seed of 

 sainfoin and the more common adulterants are briefly described. The seed of sain- 

 foin should have a purity of at least 98 per cent and a germination of 88 to 90 per cent. 



Report of the Seed Control Station at Lund, Sweden, for 1902, B. Jonsson 

 {Krartahshr. Malmohus Lan.'< K. Hu.'^hcdL ,S'(//.sA-., 1903, Xn. 1, pp. l.l.'-143). 



Report of the "Wermland County Seed Control Station, Chemical Labora- 

 tory, and Milk Control Station at Molkom for 1902, J. A. Anderssox {Red. 

 Verm. FrdkontwUanst. och Kem. Lab. Molkom, 1903, pp. 30). 



The weed problem: Some observations and experiments, E. Korsmo 

 {Tid.^skr. Norske Landbr., 10 {1903), Nos. 6, pp. 247-280; 7, pp. 295-330) .—The mate- 

 rial of this report is arranged in 2 parts, the first describing the author's observations 

 in different Scandinavian countries, the second giving the results of his investigations 

 in Norway. 



Auiongthe investigations the author reports on the influence of weeds on the yield 

 and money value of different crops. These observations include 3 crops, grass, bar- 

 ley, and potatoes, grown on different plats, each comprising areas of the same size 

 and same crop, one of which served as an example of clean land and the other of 

 weed-infested land. The harvested product was carefully weighed and calculated to 

 the yield per hectare, and the following results were obtained: 



Effect of toeeds on yield and money value of crops. 



a Weight of weeds included with hay and straw. 



Investigations were carried on to determine the number of viable weed seeds in a 

 square meter of a fallow field to the depth of 25 cm. As determined by 3 different 

 weedings, the viable weed seeds in the field investigated were 10,332 per 'square 

 meter. In the field intended for spring grain, the same crop having been sown for 4 

 successive years, 33,574 vialjle seeds were found per square meter. In a third field, 

 which was fallowed, the viable weed seeds found were 1,755. 



Some experiments are reported on the effect of grinding screenings for the destruc- 

 tion of the weed seed. Two lots of mill screenings, which contained from 25 to 47 

 per cent weed seed, were ground and the samples examined for weed seeds. In 

 100 gm. of screenings thus ground only 1 weed seed was found capable of germina- 

 tion. A report is given on the number of seeds produced by different species of 

 weeds and the effect of the use of unclean seed or grain on the distribution of weeds. 

 The viability of different varieties of weed seeds is commented upon, and notes are 

 given on the chemical composition of 18 weeds which were subjected to analysis. 



Experiments were conducted on the use of barnyard manure as a source of weed 

 distribution, and it w^as found that a considerable number of weed seeds go over in 

 the solid feces in a viable condition. 



A discussion is given on different methods of (combating weeds, and in the opinion 

 of the author no single treatment will suffice to destroy weeds completely, but the 

 work must be continued from year to year with the means at hand. — f. w. woll. 



