53. 



sorrel. Determine whether roots or underground stems. Are 

 there any small scales present on the underground portions ? 



4. How do you know that quack grass is a stem? How do 

 you know that milkweed is a root? 



5. Determine the duration of life of as many weeds as pos- 

 sible. For example, foxtail (annual), wild barley or squirrel 

 tail grass (winter annual), bull thistle, wild carrot and burdock 

 (biennial), quack grass, Canada thistle, tanweed, morning glory 

 (perennial.) 



6. Determine the root and stem character of as many weeds 

 as possible. Determine also the space they occupy in the soil, 

 whether deep or shallow rooted and how these roots injure the 

 crops. 



7. Determine the number of seeds produced by some indi- 

 vidual weeds and make a record of the result. 



8. Now determine the weed seeds produced per acre of some 

 weed. 



9. Make a study of the following weed seeds : Foxtail, cockle- 

 bur, burdock, plantain, catnip, ragweed, dock, smartweed, butter 

 print or velvet leaf, may weed or dog fennel, mustard, sweet 

 clover, dodder, lambs quarter, buckhorn, wild carrot and pig- 

 weed. 



10. Why are weeds detrimental to agriculture? 



11. Determine the number of different kinds of weeds on a 

 given area. If you cannot name them dry the specimens and 

 send to me for identification. 



12. In what ways do weeds spread? Give a concise account 

 of the methods and give illustrations of each. 



13. What weeds are scattered by the wind, water, snow, ani- 

 mals and explosive properties. 



14. Germinate some of the weed seeds. Determine the per- 

 centage of germination and study the characters of the weed 

 seedlings. How many seeds in the cocklebur and how many seeds 

 germinate the first season. 



15. Try to germinate the seeds of some weeds immediately; 

 take another lot of the same kind, stratify in sand or earth and 

 allow them to freeze. Plant the seed in April. If you find any 

 difference determine the percentage in each case. 



16. Determine the percentage of impurities in clover seed. 

 Obtain bulletin 115 of the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Sta- 

 tion which gives methods in detail. This bulletin will be sent 

 upon application. 



17. Make a collection of weeds and weed seeds. Specimens 

 can be preserved and dried for reference. 



