556 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The vitality of buried seeds, J. W. T. Duvel ( U. S. Dept. Ayr., Bur. Plant 

 /in his. Bul. 83, pp. 22, pis. 3, fig. 1).— From December 19 to 23, 1902, 32 sets of 112 

 samples of seeds, each representing 109 species, 84 genera, and 34 families, were mixed 

 with earth, placed in porous clay pots, and buried in heavy clay soil. Eight sets 

 were buried 6 to 8 in. deep, 12 from 18 to 20 in., and 12 more from 36 to 42 in. deep. 

 Of the larger kinds each sample contained 100 seeds, but for most samples 200 seeds 

 were taken. Control samples were stored in cloth bags in a dry room. 



A complete series of 3 sets was taken up in November, 1903, and subjected to 

 germination tests in the greenhouse, together wth complete sets of control samples 

 tested in the greenhouse and in the germinating chamber. The tabulated results of 

 the tests show that 24 species of the buried seeds had either decayed or germinated 

 and afterwards decayed, and that the seeds of 73 species had not completely lost their 

 vitality while buried. Results as to the remaining species were indefinite. 



Corn, sweet corn, corn cockle, cabbage, cotton, peas, beans, buckwheat, wheat, 

 and barley were all decayed when taken up. The seeds of cheat (Bromus secalinus) 

 and upright cheat (B. racemosus) completely lost their vitality, and it is concluded 

 that where cheat is found in grain fields or elsewhere it has come from seed recently 

 sown. 



In studying the relation of depth of burial to vitality the average germination of 

 all samples was found to be as follows: Original tests, 63.2 per cent; control samples 

 in germinating chamber, 57.5; control samples in greenhouse, 53.2; samples buried 

 6 to 8 in., 20.5; buried 18 to 22 in., 26.5; and buried 36 to 42 in., 31 per cent, The 

 seeds of the Trifoliums and closely related genera, including Lespedeza and Medicago, 

 deteriorated very greatly while in the soil. 



The seeds of the common cultivated sunflower, common garden lettuce, and oats 

 had lost their vitality, while those of the wild sunflower germinated 43.5, 64, and 

 66.5 per cent; those of prickly lettuce 63.5, 69, and 69.5; and of wild oats (Arena 

 fat mi), 9, 8, and 18 per cent, respectively, for the 3 different depths. 



From these results it is pointed out that many weeds can be destroyed by deep 

 plowing and leaving the soil undisturbed for some time; that the seeds of cultivated 

 plants lose their vitality, while the seeds of weeds retain their power to grow remark- 

 ably well when buried; and that the vitality in all seeds is best preserved by careful 

 harvesting and storing in a dry and comparatively cool place. The results further 

 indicated that the deeper seeds are buried the better the vitality is preserved; that 

 hard seeds of the same species retain their vitality much better than those with softer 

 seed coats; and that unhulled seed, especially of the grasses, retains its power of 

 growth better than hulled seed. 



Destruction of wild mustard, J. B. Maetix (Prog. Agr. et Vit. [Ed. V Est], 26 

 (1905), No. 21, pp. 634-636). — Of different solutions used for the destruction of wild 

 mustard, a 3 per cent solution of copper sulphate and a 20 per cent solution of iron 

 sulphate were most effective, but the iron sulphate was injurious to the crop. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Tomatoes under glass. Methods of pruning- tomatoes, G. E. Stone ( 3fassa- 

 chusetts Sta. Bul. 105, pp. 3-28, 38, 39, figs. 5). — A summary is given of the results 

 secured at the different experiment stations in this country with tomatoes as regards 

 soils and fertilizers, solid beds and benches v. pots, transplanting, pollination, time 

 required to grow crop, yield per square foot, pruning, etc., with the details of experi- 

 ments by the author on pruning tomatoes. 



In one experiment, when a few of the lower leaves were removed from plants 

 trained to a single stem, there was a gain of 32 per cent in stem growth and 18 per 

 cent increase in the size of the fruits over unpruned plants. In 3 other experiments 

 extending over 1, 2, and 3 months, respectively, with plants trained to 2 stems, the 



