BOB i hi i.i i i;i.. 861 



in the case of oats tic- Duppau variety produced .1 greater vveighl than Ligowo, 

 and this variety a greater weight than Tartar King. It is considered probable 

 thai these differences are due to the character of the hull and the kernel. 



The persona] factor in making the determinations is largely removed by 

 the vveighl method, thus leading to uniforinitj in the results of different labora- 

 tories; and the sources of error are comparatively small, and no greater in 

 samples of poor than in those of good quality. The method admits of the use 

 of larger samples, and in this way tends toward greater accuracy. From a 

 botanical poinl of view it bas the preference over the germination method. 

 11 admits of simplification in determining purity, and the results refer uo1 only 

 to tin* Dumber of germinable seeds in n sample but also t<> their viability, while 

 the germination method simply shows the number of living seeds. 



The results of Qeld experiments seem to confirm 1 he superiority of the 

 method. Its application is described in detail. 



Report of Danish seed control [station]) 1903-4, K. Dorph I'i rEBSi \ 

 {Copenhagen, 1904, PP- 56). — A summary of the activities of the station during 

 Its 33d year is given and the results of examinations of farm and garden seeds 

 for the year and for the preceding decade, with notes on the origin of the seed 

 in the Danish market, the occurrence of noxious weeds, germination tests 

 with seed of Danish wild plants, water content of seed. etc., are reported. 



Experiments in progress since 1900 show that plantain and charlock seed 

 retain their viability nearly without deterioration when buried in the ground. 

 In nnother experiment 153 gm. of plantain and 186 gm. of camomile seed 

 weir \\-i\ to a cow, the number of seeds in the excremenl determined, and their 

 viability tested. About 86 per cent of the plantain seed and 33 per cent of the 

 camomile seed were recovered. The viability of the plantain si^^\ ;is shown 

 on - different days was 62 and 53 per cent as compared with 89 per cenl for 

 the seed as U-i], and of the camomile seed, si and 59 per cenl .-is against '■»! per 

 cent for the original seed. — f. w. woll. 



Rules and regulations governing the Colorado Patterson seed selection 

 competition, W. II. Oi.in and \Y. L. ( 'aki.vi.i: (Colo. Agr. ('"I. /»///.. ■'>. ser., H"i~>. 

 No. .'. pp. 11, />'//. /. '/////'. I). — The rules and regulations governing this competi- 

 tion are given, with explanations :is to the way the awards are to he made ami 

 instructions for conducting the work. 



HORTICULTURE. 



Report of the horticultural division, F. \Y. Cabd and M. A. I-i \ki (Rhode 

 Island st, 1. Rpt. 1905, i>i>- 191 '.I'i. pis. /i. This covers the results secured at 



the station in various cultural and breeding experiments with vegetables and 



fruits. Some in tes on the apple maggot and on corn selection are noted else- 

 where in this issue. 



A severe wind storm occurring in September, 1904, gave an opportunity t<> 



estimate the relative resistance of s 28 varieties of apples to wind. The 



varieties York Imperial, Tuft Baldwin, Seek-no-further. Pomme <;ris. Pewau- 

 kee. Mann. Northwestern Greening, and Palmer appeared to bave the least 

 resistance, while little or no fruit was blown from such varieties as Winesap, 

 Roxbury Russet. Canada Red, Genet, and Ben Davis. 



As a result of 1; years experimental work with hush fruits the conclusion 

 is reached thai the climatic conditions prevailing at the station .ire decidedly 

 unfavorable to the growth of bramble fruits, lr is thought that the great 

 humidity caused by proximity to the ocean is one of the causes of injury to 



