FIELD CROPS. 



241 



due to the surface of the ground retaining some of 1 1 1 « - poison. Quack grass was not 

 very much affected by the use of any of the solution-. 



< observations made on the growth of wild oats showed that the seed was ripe enough 

 to grow 85 daj - from seeding and 8 'lays alter blossoming. The ripe seed fell to the 

 ground L5 days after blossoming, or 92 days from seeding. The author calls atten- 

 tion to the fact thai since wheat a1 the station requires LOO days to reach maturity, 

 the wild oats are certain to reseed themselves before the wheal harvest. 



An inspection of grass and clover seed, L. R. Jones and W.J. Morse I Vermont 

 sin. Rpt. 1904, pp. 402-417, 588-546, Jigs. P).— Samples representing 735 lots of seed 

 were secured by the station from dealers in all parts of Vermont, and the examina- 

 tion of the samples as to purity and germination were made by the See.) Laboratory 

 of this Departmenl and the result- obtained are given for each sample. A summary 

 of the examination is shown in the following table: 



'Purity 'in>/ tji rmination tests of grass and clovt r seeds collected in Vermont. 



Seed. 



Timothy 



Redtop 



Kentucky blue grass 



Orchard grass 



Meadow fescue 



Millets 



Red clover 



Mammoth red clover 



Alsikc clover 



White clover 



Crimson clover 



Alfalfa 



Rape 



Average 

 purity of 



samples. 



/'</■ cent. 



Average 

 germina- 

 tion of 



Per cent. 



88.0 

 B7.0 

 56.0 

 56.0 

 46.0 

 90.0 

 87.0 

 85.0 

 77.0 

 59.0 

 12.0 

 79.0 





Pi r n nt. Pi ,■ a nt. 

 32 28 



100 



91 

 98 

 90 

 LOO 



Nine lawn grass mixtures contained 86 per cent of pure grass ami clover seed. 

 The value of the samples of seed as a whole was reduced by a considerable amount 

 Of inert foreign matter, dirt, chaff, etc., by the occurrence of weed seeds ami of for- 

 eign seeds of various kinds having more or less agricultural value, and by the low 

 germination shown in various cases. Methods of testing seeds are briefly described, 

 and some of the more important State laws regulating the sale of agricultural seeds 

 are summarized, the Maine law heing given in full. 



Grain score cards, J. H. Shepperd i North Dakota Sta. Rpt. 1904, pt. 1, pp. 147- 

 Outlines of the score cards used at the college in judging corn, wheat, oats, 

 and barley are given. 



Variety tests of wheat, oats, and potatoes, G. C. Watson and A. K. RiSBEB 

 {Pennsylvania si,,. Rpt. 1904, pp. 188-196). — The results of variety tests with wheat 

 have heei i noted from another source i E. S. R., 16, p. 364 |. The varieties of oats and 



potatoes were grown on plats Similar to those described for w heat. 



Twenty varieties of oats were sown at the rate of 8 pk. per acre on April I'd and 

 harvested August 5. The yields of grain ranged from 47.52 to 64.60 bu. per acre. 

 The leading varieties. Czar of Russia, Japan, and Silver .Mine, yielded 64.60, 63.66, 

 and 63.09 bu. per acre, respectively, hong White Tartar led in weight per bushel, 

 with ."»:'.. 41 lbs. The heaviest yield of straw per acre, :!,447 lbs., was produced by 



Japan. This variety, under test for 13 years, has given an average yield of 49.66 bu. 



per acre. Among 4 varieties grown for (i years Mortgage hitter ripened aboul one 

 week earlier than the others. From L899 to 1W3 White Maine. Fourth of July, and 

 Heavy Weight Champion gave better yields of grain than Japan. Gold Giant Side 

 and Tzar of Russia stood tirst in yield among the varieties tested for 3 years. 



