SEEDS WEEDS, 1085 



Comparative respiration experiments witli dry and damp Ligowo oats containing, 

 respectively, 9.16 and 1S.(>4 per cent water, showed that tlie following quantities of 

 carbonic acid were exhaled during 5-day periods by 2.8 kilos of oats: By the dry 

 oats, 0.0248, 0.0142, and 0.0200 gm. (total, 0.0590 gm.); by the damp oats, 0.8320, 

 2.4527, 2.4989 gm. (total, 5.7836 gm.) ; i. e., nearly 98 times more than for the dry 

 oats. 



On the assumption that this loss takes place at the expense of the starch in the 

 grain, there is a 3 jier cent larger loss in the total amount of starch contained in the 

 oats in the case of the damp than in the dry oats, if the oats be kept for about 5 

 months. The money value of this loss to the oat grower is apparent. The destruc- 

 tion of the starch is accompanied by a decomposition of the fats, and the proteids 

 may also be attacked; hence the importance of rareful drying of grain. — f. w. wom,. 



Report on the work of the Stockholm Seed Control Station for 1902-3, 

 O. Sx.iERNQrisT {Red. Verks. Stockhol)NS Ldns ITushdllningssdll. Fr'ukontrollanst., 1!)03, 

 pp. 13). — Statistical data are presentetl relative to experiments carried out by the 

 station concerning the weight, size, purity, germinating power, and other character- 

 istics of various kinds of seeds submitted for examination. 



Notes on certain threatening weeds, L. R. Joxes and W. J. ^Iokse ( Vermont 

 Sta. Rpt. 1903, pp. 169-173, Jigs. 3). — Brief descriptive and economic notes on king- 

 devil weed, creeping sow thistle, blue thistle, Russian thistle, clover dodder, and 

 prickly lettuce. 



The shrubby cinquefoil as a w^eed, L. R. Jones and W. J. .Morse ( Veriiifjnl Sla. 

 Rpt. 1903, pp. 173-190, pU. 4, fig^- 5). — During recent years in certain portions of 

 southwestern Vermont, Potentilhi fruticosa has become exceedingly aggressive and in 

 some instances has taken complete possession of pastures and tilled lands. The 

 authors describe this plant and give notes on its botanical relationship, habitat, and 

 geograjihical distribution. The species occurs generally throughout the northern por- 

 tions of both hemispheres and extends far south into the mountainous regions of 

 Asia and North America. It appears to thrive best on calcareous soils. The use of 

 the plant in the manufacture of coarse stable brooms has been suggested, but the 

 plant appears to have no other economic value. 



Among the methods of prevention or destruction the authors recommend mowing, 

 burning, plowing, grubbing and pulling, and grazing with live stock. Sheep and 

 cattle browse upon it to some extent, but goats are much more effective in destroying 

 it. The hope is expressed that the Angora goat may control or entirely exterminate 

 this shrubl)y cinquefoil, as well as hardback and other shrubby weeds of Vermont 

 pastures. The pest also yields to reforestation, and for this purpose the author rec- 

 ommends planting white pine, yellow locust, willows, and butternuts. 



Spraying for wild mustard, J. L. Stone {New York Cornell Sla. Bui. JIC, pp. 

 107-110). — Experiments were instituted by the author for the purpose of testing the 

 value of copper sulphate in the destruction of wild mustard. It was found that 

 young plants of wild mustard are more quickly and certainly destroyed than older 

 plants. 



Among the weeds which were destroyed by copper sulphate solutions mention is 

 made of wild mustard, wild radish, wild barley, shepherd's purse, etc. Curly dock, 

 black bindweed, dandelion, etc., were severely injured, while wild rose, pig weed, 

 Held thistles, etc., were not affected. It was found safe to spray this solution on 

 cereals, grasses, peas, and sugar beets, while beans, potatoes, turnips, and rape were 

 killed or injured. In the first list of crops, therefore, wild mustard may be destroyed 

 by spraying with copper sulphate in a 3 per cent solution, at the rate of 40 to 50 gals. 

 per acre. 



Report of the biolog'ist, W. Lochhe.xd {Ontario Agr. Col. and Expt. Farm Rpt. 

 1903, pp. 21-32, figa. 13). — The experiments and demonstrations conducted through- 

 out Ontario have shown that wild nmstard may be almost entirely eradicated by 



