154 Repoet of the Department of Botany of the 



mustard, green foxtail, chicory, and curled dock, with Russian 

 thistle and roquette as new arrivals which attract much attention, 

 but have so far proved to be of little importance in New York 

 alfalfa fields. Examination of samples of alsike and timothy 

 mixtures and of lawn grass mixtures revealed a very serious 

 condition as regards purity. Such mixtures should be avoided. 



I. INSPECTION OF AGRICULTURAL SEEDS. 



Part I of this Bulletin gives the results of the analyses of 

 samples of agricultural seeds collected by the Commissioner of 

 Agriculture during the six months following July 1, 1912. These 

 samples were collected under the provisions of Article 15 of the 

 Agricultural Law, which took effect on the above date, and were 

 transmitted for analvsis to the Director of the New York Agri- 

 cultural Experiment Station, in accordance with the provisions of 

 Section 341 of said law. These analyses and other additional 

 information are published by the Director in accordance with 

 said Section 341. 



Preceding the tables are given : The provisions of the law rela- 

 tive to the sale and inspection of agricultural seed, and a dis- 

 cussion of the methods of analysis as required by the law; while 

 following the table are comments on the results of studies made 

 in an attempt to secure standards giving the number of seeds per 

 unit weight for the common crop seeds; and, lastly, a brief dis- 

 cussion of what the inspection reveals as to the character and 

 quality of the agricultural seeds offered for sale in this State, and 

 the significance of the inspection to New York farmers. 



provisions of the agricultural law relative to the inspec- 

 tion AND SALE OF AGRICULTURAL SEED. 



ARTICLE 15 OF THE AGRICULTURAL LAW. 

 Inspection and Sale of Seeds. 



Section 340. Inspection and sale of seeds. 



341. Samples, publication of results of examination. 



§ 340. Inspection and sale of seeds. Within the meaning of 

 this article " agricultural seeds " are denned as the seeds of 



