58 a EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



to devote time to it. It seems entirely proper that the station 

 should investigate and improve methods, but it is felt that it 

 should be left to the seedsmen to adopt such methods in separat- 

 ing their own seed. This they could do at small initial cost. 



Lack of equipment and facilities for making purity and germ- 

 ination tests has made difficult the handling of this work. In 

 this, as in seed separation work, the number of receipts from 

 commercial houses has been excessive. 



In connection with the seed work a new device for counting- 

 seed ^ and improvements in apparatus for separating tobacco 

 seed have been devised. Methods employed in germination tests 

 are in need of improvement, and it is hoped that investigations 

 looking towards this may be undertaken in the near future. 



Miscellaneous experimental work, including spraying, weed 

 eradication, tests of soil and other fungicides, and tests of radio- 

 active substances as fertilizers, has been carried on, and some 

 satisfactory results obtained. 



Experiments to determine the eifect of certain crude by- 

 products on the control of potato scab " were last season trans- 

 ferred from the tile and pots to field plots. Slight beneficial 

 results were obtained, but the work will be continued further 

 before a detailed report is made. 



Radio-active substances as fertilizers have aroused much in- 

 terest, and at the request of a manufacturer, experiments are 

 being conducted in the greenhouse to determine the eft'ect of 

 these materials on seed germination and growth of crops. 



Experimental work has continued on the exclusion of roots 

 from tile drains by packing the joints with creosoted excelsior.^ 



Other investigations are under way concerning oil injury to 

 fruit trees and on repellents to prevent gnawing of fruit tree 

 bark by rabbits. 



The following Adams fund projects have been authorized : — 



1. Study of the physiological reaction of plants to light in- 

 tensity and moisture in relation to the burning of foliage by 

 sprays and fumigants. 



I Clark, Orton L. A Simple Device for Counting Seeds. Science, N. S. XLI, 132, 1015. 



- Stone, G. E., and Chapman, G. H. Experiments relating to the Control of Potato Scab. 

 Mass. Agr. Exp. Sta., 25th An. Rept., Pt. I., 84-96, 1913. 



3 Stone, G. E., and Chapman, G. H. Experiments relating to the Prevention of the Clogging 

 of Drain Tile by Roots. Mass. Agr. Exp. Sta., 23d An. Rept., Pt. II., 35-42, 1911. 



