REPORT OF THE BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT. 



SEED TESTS MADE AT THE STATION DUEING 



1911.* 



SUMMARY. 



During 19 ii there were received by the Station and tested 

 for purity, 1015 samples of agricultural seeds: 548 of alfalfa, 253 

 of red clover, g8 of timothy, 86 of alsike clover, and 30 of miscel- 

 laneous plants. Dodder occurred in 12.9 per ct. of the alfalfa 

 samples and in 4.74 per ct. of the red clover samples, a slightly 

 larger percentage in each case than in 1910. Large-seeded 

 dodder occurred in twice as many samples as did the small- 

 seeded kind. Red clover and alsike clover contained rather 

 more noxious weeds this year than last. Adulteration was 

 found in two cases of red clover seed, and twelve of alsike 

 clover. Yellow trefoil grows readily in alsike clover fields and 

 our observations indicate that several cases of adulteration of 

 alsike seed with yellow trefoil were due to the presence of yel- 

 low trefoil in the field. Many samples were altogether too 

 small for dependable tests. Cciitaurca rcpcns was found in sev- 

 eral alfalfa seed samples, — an indication that the seed was im- 

 ported, Russian thistle and roquette continue to attract 

 attention in alfalfa fields but we have no evidence that indicates 

 danger from these weeds in this State. Several failures in oat 

 seedings were found to be due to sowing oats that had been 

 bleached with sulphur fumes. 



IXTRODUCTIOK 



During the past year the Station has continued to make purity 

 tests of agricultural seeds sent in by farmers and seedsmen of the 

 State. In all, 1015 samples were tested during the calendar year 

 1911: 548 of alfalfa, 253 of red clover, 98 of timothy, 86 of 

 alsike clover and 30 of miscellaneous seeds. 



*A reprint of Bulletin No. 345, February, 1912; for "Popular Edition," 

 see p. 820. 



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