New York Agricultukal Experiment Station. 821 



ing, seeds are secured from top, middle and bottom of the bag 

 or other container, and from these lots, thoroughly mixed, at 

 least two ounces are retained for final examination if the seed 

 is of alfalfa or clover, or at least one ounce if of timothy or other 

 grasses. These figures should govern in unofficial sampling, also ; 

 but of the alfalfa and clover seed samples received by the 'Station 

 during 1911, only a little more than one-third were up to the 

 weight required for dependable analysis ; and of the timothy seed 

 samples less than one-half reached one ounce in weight. In 

 nearly 200 cases the sample sent weighed less than half an ounce. 

 Such small samples may give some information, but they are not 

 satisfactory for accurate percentage determinations. 



iSome seeds of new weeds were found, the pres- 



^^ ence of these seeds indicating, in general, that the 



seeds sample of alfalfa, clover or timothy came from a 



found. foreign source, although some weeds may be 



recent introductions into America. 

 One of these weeds, Trianthema monogyna, is a " pusley "-like 

 plant, quite common in the West Indies, and found sparingly in 

 some of the Southern States. It has certainly been sown with 

 alfalfa seed in this State, as it was found in 26 samples; but no 

 plant of it has been sent in for identification, so it can not be 

 well established, nor do we know anything of its behavior under 

 our conditions. Shaftal is another plant of which seeds were 

 found in small quantities in 16 samples of alfalfa seed. This 

 belongs to the clover family, is an annual, and is not liable to 

 become a troublesome weed, although a vigorous grower. Lance- 

 leaved sage, found in 10 samples of alfalfa seed, is another 

 annual, and probably not to be feared as a weed. 



Other noteworthy weeds found in the examinations of this year 

 have been Russian thistle, roquette and Johnson grass. The first 

 of these is a serious menace in parts of the West, but in New York 

 alfalfa fields it disappears after the first season, so can not be 

 considered a bad weed. Roquette, a plant of the mustard family, 

 makes a rank growth in alfalfa, and has been the cause of much 

 anxiety to growers; but, like Russian thistle, it is in evidence 

 only during the first season and is evidently not to be feared. In 

 the South, Johnson grass, a species of sorghum, is troublesome. 

 How it will behave in this State is unknown, but it may become 

 established here through its occurrence in alfalfa seed. Any 

 information relative to the presence or behavior of the plant in 

 New York will be welcomed by the Station. 



