98 STATE BOARD OP AGRICULTURE 



in all cases, been satisfactory, yet as a rule we have been well pleased 

 with the interest that has been taken and with the reports that we have 

 received, 



ASSISTANTS. 



During the year I have aided by H. P. Gladden and M. L. Dean, who 

 for several years have acted as assistants in this department. They 

 have had charge of the details of most of the experiments; the note 

 taking has been performed by them, or under their directions, and the 

 results have been compiled by them for the bulletins. 



Respectfully submitted, 



L. R. TAFT, 



Horticulturist. 

 Agricultural College, Mich., | 

 November 30, 1897. \ 



REPORT OF THE CONSULTING BOTANIST. 



To the Director : 



I respectfully submit a report of the work done by the consulting botan- 

 ist for the experiment station during the past year. 



The character of the work has not changed from that of former years 

 except in the increased amount of time required to keep pace with the 

 increasing work, which consists in answering numerous questions about 

 plants, the examination of seeds of grasses and clovers, studies of smuts 

 of grains and other parasitic plant diseases, and work in the herbarium. 



SEED EXAMINATION. 



As it becomes more generally known that the station botanist is will- 

 ing to examine seeds for any person who may request such examination, 

 more farmers send samples of clover seed and grass seed to be tested each 

 year. 



The necessity for careful examination of seeds of farm crops becomes 

 more and more apparent each year, especially if such seeds are imported 

 from the old world. 



The following lists of old world weeds found in two fields on the col- 

 lege farm during this year will tend to confirm the above statement: 



Weeds in crimson clover. Seed imported from Europe: 



Lepidium Campestre — Mithridate Mustard. Anthemis arvensis — Corn Chamomile. 



Lychnis vespertina — White Campion. Bromus secalinus — Ches^. 



Brassica alba — White mustard. Af^ropyrum repens — Quack-grass. 



B. sinapistrum — Charlock. Erodium cicutarium — Common Storksbill. 



Anthyllis vulneraria — Kidney vetch. Brassica campestris — Summer Rape. 



