SEEDS WEEDS. , 457 



Experiments are brieflj' reported in which is shown the comparative 

 value of crops grown from seeds of different origin. Timothy from 

 American seed gave a slightly larger yield than that from German 

 seed. Alfalfa from American seed yielded least of 4 kinds. Alfalfa 

 f i-om different parts of Russia varied widely in the quantity of green 

 fodder produced. The relative yields of orchard grass from forest- 

 grown and field-grown seed were tested, to the decided advantage of 

 the ffeld-grown seed. Comparisons were made between the yields of 

 American, New Zealand, French, and Swiss grown orchard grass, in 

 which the yields secured for 3 years are shown. Except for the New 

 Zealand seed, which was considerably lower than the others, there was 

 but little difference in the different lots. 



Notes are given on the weed seeds found in alfalfa seed from dif- 

 ferent countries, especial attention being paid to Cuscuta racemosa^ a 

 South American dodder which is said to occur in seed from that countr3^ 



The time required for the germination of seed of Pinus syVvestris 

 was investigated. Different lots of pine seed which showed varying 

 degrees of vitality were tested, the sprouted seeds being counted on 

 the sixth, ninth, twelfth, fifteenth, twenty-first, and thirtieth days. 

 It was found that of the germinable seed of the different lots, all but 

 about 10 per cent sprouted within 1.5 davs. 



Effect of fornialdehyde on the germination of cereals and on 

 smut spores, S. David {Sltzber. Naturf. Gesell. Uni'V. Dorpat^ 12 

 {1899), Ao. 3, pp. 202-204., ^^^-^7).— Investigations are reported 

 showing the effect of formaldehyde upon the germination of wheat, 

 maize, oats, and barley and upon the spores of smuts of these cereals. 

 Different lots of seed were subjected to varying strengths of formalde- 

 hyde solutions for 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours, after which their ger- 

 mination was tested. The strengths of solutions used were 0.025, 0.05, 

 0.125, and 0.25 per cent of formaldehyde, and comparisons were made 

 with equal quantities of seed soaked in distilled water for equal lengths 

 of time. The effect of formaldehyde vapors was tested in a similar 

 manner. 



The results of the experiments are shown in tabular form, from 

 which the effects of the treatments of seed upon their germination may 

 be seen. An injurious effect is noted upon different cereals, being 

 most marked in the experiments with oats. The extent of injury is 

 in proportion to the strength of solution and time of soaking. The 

 injury is manifested in retarded germination, in abnormal germination 

 in which no roots were produced although the seeds sprouted, and in 

 dead seed. The action of the solutions on the spores of smuts was 

 quit(^ marked, a few hours' treatment destroying the spores of Ustilago 

 avency^ U. hordei., JJ. maydis, and U. destruens adhering to the treated 

 seed. After treating the seed the injurious effects of formaldehA^de 

 may be diminished by soaking the seed in a weak solution of ammonia 

 for 15 minutes. 



