

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Plant Industry, 



Office of the Chief, 

 Washington, D. C, May 2-9, 1905. 

 Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith, and to recommend for 

 publication as Bulletin No. S3 of the series of this Bureau, the accom- 

 panying technical paper entitled "The Vitality of Buried Seeds." 



The experiments discussed were undertaken in order to determine 

 the length of time that seeds of different species of plants will retain 

 their vitality when buried at various depths. Seeds of both cultivated 

 and wild plants were used, but special attention was given to weed 

 seeds in order to ascertain what weeds can be eradicated by deep plow- 

 ing and how long the soil must remain undisturbed before the vitality 

 of the seeds will be entirely destroyed. The results of the first year's 

 experiments show that the noxious character of weeds is closely 

 associated with the length of time the seeds will remain viable in the 

 soil, and that many weeds can be eradicated by plowing. Much 

 additional information is given, showing the relative resistance of the 

 seeds of cultivated plants and of those commonly designated as weeds, 

 and the influence upon the preservation of vitality of the depth of 

 burial, of hard seed coats, and of hulled as compared with unhulled 

 seed. 



This paper was prepared by J. W. T. Duvel, Assistant in the Seed 

 Laboratory, and has been submitted with a view to publication. 



The accompanying illustrations are necessary for a complete under- 

 standing of the paper. 

 Respectfully, 



B. T. Galloway, 



Chief of Bureau. 

 Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



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