10 HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION. [Jan. 



General Botanical Work. 



G)'ass Collection. 



Among the specimens sent in by farmers and other citizens 

 of the State for determination are not infrequently grasses. 

 The station possesses already a small collection of these most 

 important plants, and it is hoped that in the course of time a 

 representative of every species peculiar to Massachusetts will 

 be found here, not only for our own use in aiding identifica- 

 tion of obscure species, but for the benefit of the student and 

 visitor who may wish to become familiar with them. 



Weed Collection. 



Any one who is conversant with our ever-extending com- 

 mercial relations with foreign countries can realize that a 

 considerable number of new species of plants reaches us every 

 year. That most of these may prove perfectly harmless 

 there can be no doubt ; but, on the other hand, we do not 

 know but that there is in our State to-day some slumbering 

 pest, some unnaturalized immigrant, which may in a few 

 years become as common as the daisy or shepherd's purse, 

 and prove as disastrous as the Russian thistle. For this 

 reason we wish to extend our collection of State weeds, and 

 keep a careful record of the nature and time of introduction 

 of every species. This department, therefore, requests the 

 co-operation of all those interested in such matters, in its 

 endeavor to make a complete collection and accumulate data 

 bearing- on the habits of our weeds. 



