458 EXPEEIMENT STATION EECOBD. 



Seed selling', seed growing, and seed testing, A. J. Pieters ( U. S. Dept. Agr. 



Yfitrhook JS'JO, pp. 540-574, plx. 5, Jiy. 1). — The beginning and development of 

 the seed industry in the United States, the methods of seed growing of different 

 kinds, the regions and conditions favorable for profitable seed growing, and seed 

 testing are described. The methods of seed testing pursued by different commercial 

 seedsmen and those followed by this Department are outlined. 



Teclinical regulations of the Association of German Agricultural Experi- 

 ment Stations for seed testing (Lru/r^r. Ven^. Stat., 54 ( 1900), No. l-ri,pp. 01-100). — 

 Tlic rules i-elativi' to samjiles, sampling, and testing are given. 



The after-ripening of oats, \V. Kinzel {Laiuliv. Vers. Stat., 54(1900), No. 1-2, 

 p. lo.y). — A rcjiort is given of tests nf the germination of oats at bimonthly periods 

 after harvesting. The percentage of germinable seed was found to steadily increase 

 for 8 to 10 months, after which there was a decrease. 



Canada thistle, L. H. Dewey f 11. <S'. Dept. Agr., Division of Botany Circ. 21, pp. I4, 

 figs. 4). — Illustrative and descriptive notes are given on the Canada thistle, in which 

 its history, introduction, present range, and methods of distribution are discussed in 

 greater or less detail. Numerous methods of eradication are suggested, the success 

 of any of them depending upon the thoroughness with which it is carried out. 



DISEASES OF PLANTS. 



The diseases of beet seeds and means for combating them, Lin- 

 hart {Oesterr. Ungar. Ztschr. ZucJierind.^ 1890; ahs. in Ztschr. Pflan- 

 zenkranh.^lO {1900), No. 2., pp. 116, 117). — A number of fungus and bac- 

 terial diseases of beets that seem to be communicated through the seeds 

 are described. The bacterial disease is attributed to Bacillus my coides. 

 Associated with it were found Bacillus suhfllis, B. fluorescens liquefa- 

 dens, and B. mesentericus vulgatus. B. mycoides is considered the 

 cause of the disease commonly known as bacteriosis and also that on 

 yOung plants known as black shank. The fungus diseases found were 

 those caused by Phoma hetce and Pythium debaryanum. 



As a means for preventing these diseases it is recommended that the 

 " seed" bo soaked for 30 minutes in concentrated sulphuric acid, after 

 which they are washed for 10 minutes in a strong stream of running 

 water and then soaked 2 hours in milk of lime and washed 4 hours in 

 water. This troatmci^t does not injure the seed, while it destroys all 

 spores adhering to the hard seed coat. 



Bacteriosis of beet roots, A, Stift {Oesterr. Ungar. Ztschr. Zuch- 

 erbuL, 1899., p>' ^^^/ '^'^^•^' '^^^' Jour. Boy. Micros. Soc. \^Londmi\, 1900, 

 No. 3, p. 373). — A description of diseased beets and results of inocu- 

 lation experiments with cultures of Bacillus hetcB are given. The 

 bacillus was cidtivated on agar. It is about 4 f^ long by 0. 9 to 1 yw broad. 

 Its ends are rounded and in hanging drops actively motile. Flagella 

 are numerous and very delicate. In cane-sugar-meta-peptone gelatine 

 sugar was completely decomposed without the evolution of gas, a fact, 

 it is said, which suggests that the conversion of sugar was due to 

 hydrolysis. The organism liquclies gelatine and on agar slants presents 

 a slight irregular growth. 



An inquiry into the cause and nature of cro-wn gall, J. W, Toumey 

 {Arir^ciia Shi. Hnl. .',o^ pp. (iJi.jigs. ,11). — This bulletin is a continua- 



