1084 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



SEEDS WEEDS. 



Alfalfa seed, K. Rkown {U. S. Ihpt. Aijr., FurmrrH' Bui. 194, p}>. J-i,fi'ji^. S).—lt 

 is .stafc(l that tliL' (juality of the alfalfa swd offered on the market during the present 

 season is very low, and special care is ur>j;ed in buyinfr seed in order to avoid poor 

 and adulterated samples. 



The adulteration of alfalfa seed ajjpears to he accomplished chiefly by the addition 

 of the seed of yellow trefoil or bur clover. The bur clover is used as an adulterant 

 of alfalfa seed under the name of Chilean lucern. Intendinjr buyers of alfalfa seed 

 are urged to remember that the fresh seed is light olive green in color while brown 

 seed is almost always dead. The appearance of dodder seed is also described. This 

 lias proved to be one of the most destructive weeds in alfalfa fields. It is recom- 

 mended that no adulterated or l)rown alfalfa seed be bought and tliat samples be 

 tested before buying in large (juantities. 



Temperature in relation to seed germination, J. B. Kevnoi.ds {Ontario Agr. 

 Col. ami Expt. Farm Jipt. 1903, pp. 9-11, figs. 2). — An account is given of tests of 

 different seeds at various temperatures ranging from 45 to 95° F. 



" This investigation was carried on by means of a seed germinator, consisting of an 

 interior oven surrounded on all sides by double walls, within which water is kept. 

 Heat applied to the base of the apparatus maintains the oven at any desired tempera- 

 ture, the circulation of the water distributing the heat evenly within the surrounding 

 walls. In the oven the seed is germinated between two concave plates laid face to 

 face. On the lower plate a square of saturated })lotting paper carries the seeds to be 

 tested, another square of damp paper is laid over the seeds, and another plate laid 

 face down over the whole. Fifty or one hundred seeds of one kind, according to 

 their size and to the space available, are placed on each plate." 



The average results are summarized in the following table: 



Teinprralun:'> of germination. 



Species. 



Remarks. 



Cabbage 



Onion 



Parsnip 



Cauliflower 



Oats 



Beans 



Peas (smootli) .. 

 Peas (wrinkled) 



Wheat 



Barley 



Corn (dent) 



Peas (sweet) 



Carrot , 



Turnip (Swede) 

 Turnip (white) 



Rape 



Beet (common). 



Beet (sugar) 



Clover (red) — 

 Clover (alsike). 



Radish 



Cucumber 



Tomato 



Squash 



Vitality impaired above 80°, below 68°. 



Vitality destroyed at 95°. 

 Vitality impaired beyond 80°. 



Do. 

 Mildewed at 95°. 

 Vitality almost destroyed at 90°. 



Vitality impaired at 80°. 



Somt' mildew at 80°. 



Earlier Kermination, but impaired vitality at 80°. 



Vitality impaired beyond 90°. 



Do. 



Do. 



Vitality impaired at 9.5°. 



Mildewed at 90°. 

 Vitality impaired at 95°. 

 Do! 



The bearing of the results on the methods of cultivation of the soil best suited to 

 maintain proper conditions of heat and moisture for germination is discussed. 



Respiration experiments witli dry and moist oats, Olaf Quam {Nor^k Land- 

 mandshlad, 23 {1904), No. 5, pp. 61-64).— H is shown that tlie presence of a consid- 

 erable quantity of moisture in the seed oats shortens the dormant period of the seed, 

 and that if sufficient moisture is present the oats will germinate and develop into 

 young jilants. 



