EXPERIMENT STATION REPORT. 457 



Dodder on cucumbers under glass, F. C. Stewart, N. Y. State Station Bulletin 

 ^64, with plate. Reports the occurrence of dodder, probably Cuscula Gronovii, on 

 •cucumber plants in the station hot-house. E. S. R., XII , p. 56. 



The life history of tiar and clover dodder, G. Wildsdorf (Fuhling's Landw. Zig., 

 ■43). Studies are reported on dodder seedlings, with reference to the host plant, the 

 ..liaustoria and methods of attack, and growth and reproduction of the dodder. E. S. 

 R., XII., p. 313. 



Alfalfa as a hay crop, B. C. BufFum (Wyoming Station Bulletin 43). Dodder is 

 moted as one of the serious foes of alfafa in Wyoming. E. S R., XII., p. 431. 



Geographical distribution of the species of Cuscuta in North America, A. M. 

 'Cunningham (Proc. Ind. Acad. Sci., 1898, pp. 214-215). Notes are given on the 

 .geographical distribution of the dodders into the different life-zones, as defined by 

 Dr. C. H. Merriam. E. S. R., XII., p. 720. 



The germination of ripe and half-ripe dodder seed, W. Kinzel (Landw. Vers. 

 • Station., 54, 1900, Nos. 1-2, pp. 125-132). Studies are reported upon the germina- 

 'tion of seed of various degrees of ripeness of Cuscuta epillnum, C. epilhymum, C. 

 ^plantiflora and C. Eu,ropcp.a. It was found that the half-ripe seeds of these species 

 ■retained sufficient vitality to germinate almost as readiiy as the fully-ripe seed. In 

 ■ some cases they germinated quicker than ripe seeds, and when they were found in 

 •their capsules the percentage germination was but little inferior to well-ripened 

 •seed. The author says that C. plantiflora is occasionally found in American clover 

 :3eed. This seems to be a misstatement, as that species does not appear in any of the 

 -recent systematic treatises of the flora of this country. The species is a South 

 European one, and its reputed presence is probably due to a wrong determination. 

 .E.S. R,XII.,p. 960. 



S£LF-F£RTILITY IN BUSH BEAXS. 



In order to obtain a full demonstration of the statement that beans 

 :-are self-fertile, several tests were made in the greenhouse. Bush beans 

 of the "Saddleback Wax" sort were grown in pots; as the plants 

 neared the time of blooming all were removed, and the single plant 

 ■covered with a glass bell-jar. As the flower-buds appeared, they 

 were all removed excepting one, which was allowed to bloom entirely 

 alone upon the plant. There were six such plants, with their 

 single blossom isolated, and they all produced pods of normal size, 

 possibly larger, perhaps due to the lack of competition for the nour- 

 ishment, and yielded the ordinary number of seed. The last linger- 

 ing doubt as to the self-fertility of this bean was removed. Similar 

 tests were made with peas with like results, and it seems to be a fact 

 that these species, with their strangely-formed blossoms for attracting 

 insects, and securing wide fertilization when left to themselves, do 

 inot fail, but inbreed with apparent regularity and ease. 



