APPENDIX III 425 



ITALY 



There are no laws in force in Italy with regard to the destruc- 

 tion of weeds and the supply of pure seeds of a suitable ger- 

 minating capacity. 



BELGIUM 



There are no laws in Belgium with respect to the provision 

 of pure seeds of good germinating capacity, but the Burgomaster 

 is required by Art. 50 of the " Code Rural " to see that the 

 laws and regulations requiring the destruction of Thistles and 

 other noxious plants are duly executed. A Royal Decree 

 (May 2, 1887) lays down rules for the destruction of these 

 plants, the measures for the destruction of Thistles being pre- 

 scribed by the provincial Governors, and those for other weeds 

 by the Minister for Agriculture. The destruction of male stalks 

 of Hops is rendered compulsory by a Ministerial Decree dated 

 May 3, 1887. 



GERMANY 



The Government of the German Empire have passed no laws 

 in connection with the seed trade, neither is the destruction of 

 weeds rendered compulsory by any Imperial law. Measures 

 are, however, taken in most of the Federated States against the 

 spread of certain weeds, e.g. Thistles (Cnicus arvensis), French 

 Weed (Galinsoga parviflora) , Wild Radish (Raphanus], Meadow 

 Saffron (Cokhicurn autumnale), Butter-bur (Petasites vulgaris), 

 Mistletoe (Viscum alburn), Dodder (Cuscuta Trifolii or Epilinum), 

 Broom-rape (Orobanche minor), Wild Mustard (Sinapis arvensis), 

 Wucherblume (? Senecio vernalis). These measures are carried 

 out under police orders, and under penalty of a fine or imprison- 

 ment in default. 



The examination of seeds in respect of purity and germinating 

 capacity is carried out at experiment and control stations, which 

 are partly State establishments and partly supported by the 

 Chambers of Agriculture. 



