180 Report of the Botanical DEPARTME^'T of the 



Frequent requests were made for germination tests, as was the 

 case last year; but the Station has not, as jet, the facilities for 

 making large numbers of such tests and we were unable to comply 

 except in a few special cases. Germination tests are important, 

 since the purchaser should know the viability of seed that he in- 

 tends to sow, but the method of making these tests is so simple 

 that any crop raiser can easily make them at home. Many of 

 the samples received were too small for a reliable tost and the 

 writer takes this opportunity of again calling attention to the 

 importance of sending samples that represent so far as possible 

 the bulk of seed from which they are taken. We strongly urge 

 that of alfalfa and clover, 2 ounces be sent for purity tests, and 

 of grass seeds, 1 ounce. For a guide to the standards of purity 

 and germination of seeds the reader is referred to the Yearbook 

 of the U. S. Department of Agriculture for 1896 (p. 624), or to 

 " complete " Bulletin Ko. 333 of this Station. The percentages 

 there given have been carefully worked out and are recommended 

 as a standard. 



RESULTS OF ALFALFA SEED TESTS. 



The analyses of the 548 alfalfa seed samples tested for purity 

 this year indicate that such seed for sale in the State during the 

 season of 1911 was, in general, good, high-grade seed. However, 

 a few samples were received that contained several noxious 

 weeds, a few that contained dodder, a few that contained too 

 much dirt and chaff, and a few that were largely brown, shriveled 

 and immature seed. It is evident, therefore, that the safest rule 

 for the purchaser to follow is to buy seeds only by sample. This 

 helps materially to insure a crop and reduces to a minimum the 

 danger of introducing troublesome weeds. 



Of the 548 samples tested, 71, or 12.9 per ct, contained 

 dodder, 198, or 36 per ct. were less than 1 oz. in weight, 39, or 

 7 per ct, were below the average in general appearance, 76, or 

 13.8 per ct., contained a species of mustard (Brassica sp.), and 

 72, or 11 per ct, either because of color or because of the pres- 



