8 EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



aj^c purity test of 97 per cont., red clover, 07. H per cent., rod 

 top, 98.4 per cent., alsike clover, 9G.2 per cent., white clover, 

 91.8 per cent., and other seeds were equally g'ood, although only 

 one or two samples of a kind were received. 



It has been found that different seed laboratories sometimes 

 report widely varying results of germination tests, when they 

 have worked independently upon samples from one large lot of 

 seed. It has also been found to be difficult for the seed analyst 

 to identify accurately different seeds so closely related as cab- 

 bage and cauliflower, while the identification of seeds of dif- 

 ferent varieties of one species is almost out of the question. 



A simple tool has been devised for planting white-pine seed, 

 by which the seeds may be quickly and easily inserted in the 

 soil without waste of seed or back-breaking exercise. 



The chestnut blight is working up through the Connecticut 

 valley, making this region the worst infested of any portion of 

 the State; but very few old trees with rough bark are -found 

 infected. There is an unusual amount of deterioration and 

 dying out of chestnut, which is in no way related to the blight. 



One or two applications of a solution of arsenate of soda will 

 permanently kill \veeds on tennis courts and poison ivy around 

 trees and walls. It can be best applied with a sprinkling-pot 

 to which is attached an apron to direct the spray. 



Plantain and dandelions in lawns are not readily kill('<l by 

 cutting off the crowns, as a large percentage of plants are 

 apt to renew their growth in a short time. 



Frequent applications of fertilizers to lawns is an aid to sup- 

 pression of weeds by promoting the growth of grasses. Pulver- 

 ized manure is apt to introduce weed seeds if it is used instead 

 of chemical fertilizers. 



Mosaic disease of tobacco (" calico ") is not a so-called 

 " germ disease," but is due to a disturbance of the natural 

 balance of forces within the plant. It is infectious and may 

 be communicated from one diseased plant to another. Seed 

 beds should (>itlier be properly sterilized by steam or allowed to 

 grow to grass for a year or two if seedlings have shown the 

 disease. Injury to the roots of plants when transplanting is 

 a frequent cause of the development of the disease, and if a 

 diseased plant is handled during the setting there is danger of 



