2^4 



ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1912 OF THE 

 BOTANIST. 



The results of the season's seed-testing showed, on the whole, 

 a very satisfactory state of affairs both with regard to the 

 purity of the samples and their germinating capacity. 



The various clovers proved to be the worst seeds examined, 

 though it is possible nowadays to purchase some, such as the 

 varieties of red clover, in a practically pure condition. In fact 

 several samples have been tested in which no impurities could 

 be detected. A purity of at least 98 per cent, should be 

 insisted upon by the purchaser, and even with this guarantee 

 it is worth while to scrutinise the sample carefully with a view 

 to determining what the waste of 2 per cent, really consists of. 

 Possibly a portion may be grit, fragments of stone, &c., but 

 the greater part usually consists of weed seeds. In red clover 

 the commonest of these seeds are those of the relatively 

 harmless plantain and campion, or the noxious clover dodder 

 and dock. If the seeds of clover dodder, whether of the 

 European or the Chilian species, occur the sample should be 

 rejected without further consideration. There is no valid 

 excuse for the presence of either of these seeds, for they are 

 readily removed by modern screening machinery. Samples 

 containing dock seeds should be viewed with suspicion. If 

 only 1 per cent, by weight is present this means that each 

 pound of clover seed contains about 3,200 dock seeds. Clover 

 seed containing this quantity if sown at the rate of, say 16 lb. 

 to the acre, provides every square yard with some ten or 

 eleven potential dock plants. In the report of the previous 

 year attention was called to the fact that red clover seed 

 bought in a more or less uncleaned state direct from the 

 gi'ower was a fruitful source of docks in subsequent crops. 

 One such sample was received this season. Amongst other 

 impurities it contained 6 per cent, of dock seeds of excellent 

 vitality. The seed was offered at 2d. per pound below the 

 market price of good clover seed, so that its use would show a 

 saving of about 2s. 6^. per acre. It would be interesting if one 

 could compare the cost of eradicating the crop of docks 

 resulting from a sowing of 6 x 3200 x l(j seeds per acre with the 

 amount saved initially on the seed. 



A rather striking example of false economy in seed pur- 

 chasing was afforded by a mixture described as being " suitable 

 for the formation of permanent grass." A rough analysis 

 showed that the composition was as follows : — 



