FIELD rHoi's. 



found that absolutely pur.- distilled water does no1 hinder development, but thai 

 traces of zinc are sufficienl to kill the mot tips in 24 hours. It is believed that water 

 culture experiments maj be a means of saving several years of selection by indical 

 ing whether a variety is adapted to soil conditions in a particular region. 



Cultivation of wheat at the Bathurst Farm, R. W. Peaco( k | [gr. Gaz. N. 8. 

 Wales, 16 ( 1905), No. 5, pp. '+55 $59, Jig. 1). The cultivation ><i wheat at the farm is 

 described and the results with a list of varieties reported. A.mong 1 1 varieties Tar- 

 ragon an. I Cleveland led in productiveness, with yield- of 38 bu. 13 lbs. and 36 bu. 

 21 lbs. per acre, respectively. 



Cultivation of wheat at Glen Innes Experimental Farm. II. 1 1 . < . ■ 

 Gaz. N. S. Wales, 16 i 1905), No. 5, pp. f59 f62). -Wheal was grown at this station 

 at an elevation of over 3,000 ft. and with a rainfall of L4.5 in. during growth. 

 The varieties leading in yield were Sussex, with 34.26 bu., and Tardenl Blue, with 

 30.5 bu. per acre. 



The position of the wheat grains in the head in relation to seed selection, 

 .1. Aj>oejan {Ztschr. Landw. Versuchsw. Oesterr., 8 {1905), No. 6, pp. 609-628).— The 

 results of the investigation here reported show that the heaviest kernels Btood lowest 

 in mealiness and highesl in protein content. In connection w ith these qualities these 

 grains also ranged first in specific gravity, and the author points out the value of this 

 fact in selecting them for seed by means of centrifugal force. 



From the .lata obtained the author concludes that the third or fourth ken ii -1 in the 

 spike, counting from below, is the heaviest ami probably also highesl in specific 

 gravity, and recommends therefore that these kernels he selected for seed. 



The quality of the seed in its relation to the yield of wheat, .1. AlDOBjAn 

 [Ztschr. Landw. Versuchsw. Oesterr., 8 (1905), X". <;, j>/>. 629-682). — The results of an 



experiment with selected seed, conducted in duplicate, show that the seed represent- 

 ing the fourth kernel from the lower end of the spike produced the largesl yield, and 

 that the productivity of the seed decreased as the kernels were taken higher or lower 

 in the head. 



Variety tests with winter rape, T. Remy {Deut. Landw. Presse, 82 \ 1906 I, No. 54, 

 p.472). — Seven varieties were drilled A.ugust 15, at the rate of about 11 kg. per hec- 

 tare in rows HO cm. apart. 



Canadian, oneof the earliest varieties, ranked first in yield, with 26,600 kg. of <i^-i\ 

 per hectare. Dutch rape, which yielded the largest quantity of straw, was one of the 

 lowest in >-r(-(\ production. Canadian also led in fat content of the grain, with 13.91 

 percent. The results likewise indicated that the rank-growing Holstein rape Is befit 

 adapted to a good soil and a mild w inter climate, while Dwarf rape can he grown on 

 poor soils and under more unfavorable weather conditions. 



A common error in germination tests ( Abs. in < 'entbl. Agr. ( '//<///.. •■'/' I 1905 \ 

 4, ]>/>. 958-255 ). — The germination in a seed tester of :;i samples of seed of oat- and 

 wheat ranged from 49 to 99 percent, hut the results obtained with this seed under 

 field conditions differed widely from these figures. 



of oats having shown a germination of 94 pet- cent only 54 per cent was viable in 

 the field, and of another lot with a germination of 81 percent in the tester onlj 13 

 pei- cent produced plants when sown in the open soil. Two lots of wheat having 

 shown a germination of 63 ami 62 per cent contained only 8 an. I 4 per cent, respec- 

 tively, «»f viable seeds under field conditions. The average difference in germination 

 in the tester and viability in the held was 34 per cent. 



This seed was produced under abnormally low temperature conditions and had 

 been injuriously affected by early fall frosts. Upon further investigation it was found 

 that the embryos either lacked normal development or had sustained injuries. The 

 embryos in many eases were bent and in some instances approached a spiral Bhape. 

 An injured condition was also manifested by a brownish-colored tip or base. 



