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MAY 16, 1912. 



The Weekly Florists' Review* 



77 



EUROPEAN CLOVER SEED 



The following article is taken from the H. T. Journal, an English publication: 



"There are a few things in which we have to take off 

 our hats to our European cousins. For one thing, they 

 can give us better Red Clover seed than we can give 

 them, and we export a lot every year at low price, but 

 the English and Lowland Dutch brings twice as much in 

 the London market. Why? Simply because our hot, dry 

 climate has given this great plant a wiry and hairy 

 character which makes it undesirable to the stock, and 

 also because it is not as good a cropper. If the American 

 farmers only knew it they would renew their Red Clover 

 stock with English or Lowland Dutch every few years. 

 South German, French and Austrian seed in this connec- 

 tion is, of course, no better than American. The price of 

 these on the London market tells the tale. All on a par, 



or pretty nearly so. The same is true of our Red Top, 

 Rhode Island and Creeping Bent grasses. The latter from 

 Bavaria and Austria and similar hot, dry climates is 

 probably no better than common Red Top grown under 

 similar conditions in America. What is wanted in Rhode 

 Island Bent and Creeping Bent is the Northern strain 

 from the Baltic provinces just as Cabbage and Cauli- 

 flower are better from these regions than from hot, dry 

 climates. Note in this connection the big increase in the 

 exports of Copenhagen and other favored localities during 

 recent years, in Cabbage and Cauliflower seeds, due partly 

 to push and advertising on the part of the producers, and 

 also partly to the open-eyed, eagle-eyed vision of the 

 American seedsmen." 



Reply to this article and rectification thereon 



The Seed Trade Reporting Letter Nr. 28 of March 20, 

 1912, is bringing an article concerning Red Clover and 

 Agrostis stolonifera, headed "European Clover Seed," 

 which is entirely contradicting with the truth, so that I 

 feel induced to rectify same herewith. 



The article, which I have submitted to scientific authori- 

 ties and competent seed experts, contains such a number 

 of inaccuracies and false statements that I find in the 

 interest of the German Export Trade and particularly of 

 the American dealers of the article in question to explain 

 how the matter really stands and to treat especially the 

 question of Agrostis stolonifera in detail. 



In first instance I wish to quote the replies which I 

 have received from Dr. Stebler, Director of the Swiss 

 Seed Testing Station, Zurich, and of Professor Dr. Voigt, 

 Director of the Botanical Museum, Hamburg: 



"Zurich, April 4, 1912. In reply to your letter of the 2nd 

 Inst, we fully agree with your remarks in every respect. That 

 article contains as many false statements and Inaccuracies 

 as it has sentences. It is true that American Red Clover 

 has a very hairy character; but this is never found with 

 South German, French and Austrian Seed, whilst English 

 Clover lb often hairy, for the reason that large quantities 

 of American Red Clover are always imported into the 

 United Kingdom. The remarks regarding Agrostis stolo- 

 nifera, Floringrass, too, are Incorrect. The European Agros- 

 tis stolonifera which is originated In Hessla (South Ger- 

 many) is much liked for lawns. Agrostis canina, true. Is 

 very seldom obtainable in the trade, and nothing Is known 

 to us about a variety of Agrostis from the Baltic Prov- 

 inces. These statements are Incorrect. Signed: Dr. Stebler." 



"Hamburg, April 24, 1912. The article which you have 

 sent makes us thoroughly the impression of a puffing adver- 

 tisement with a certain tendency. The statements therein 

 contained are directly false and only give an entirely one- 

 sided view of the conditions of Red Clover and Agrostis 

 stolonifera. The writer does not seem to be acquainted 

 with the most Important origins of Red Clover in the Euro- 

 pean trade and of their qualities. Of an A^ostls from 

 Northern Provinces nothing is known to us, but we know 

 that the South German Floringrass, true Agrostis stolo- 

 nifera, is particularly suitable for fine lawns. Signed: Pro- 

 fessor Dr. Volgt." 



It is ascertained that just the American buyers of 

 Agrostis stolonifera are kept in uncertainty and dark- 

 ness since many years regarding the different varieties 

 of Agrostis by some sellers and particularly by incorrect 

 statements as given for instance by the article in ques- 

 tion; therefore I beg to give for rectification detailed 

 information as to the characteristics of the different 

 species of Agrostis. 



1.) Common American Red Top, which is nearly exclu- 

 sively grown and harvested in Illinois and which is han- 

 dled all over the world, is known to the trade under the 

 following names: Agrostis capillaris, Agrostis stolonifera, 

 Agrostis vulgaris, Creeping Bent Grass, Marsh Bent Grass, 

 6tc. It is a rough grass, 2 to 3 feet high, with little value 

 for fodder, liked by sheep and less suited for fine lawns. 



20 The European Agrostis stolonifera, Floringrass, 

 which is exclusively grown in South Germany, bears the 

 following names in the trade: Agrostis stolonifera, true 

 vjerman Floringrass, Agrostis alba, Stoloniferous Bent 

 Grass, etc. It is much liked everywhere on account of 



Darmstadt, Germany, May 1, 1912. 



its fine dainty growing character; the latter makes this 

 sort specially suitable and preferred for fine lawns; the 

 plants are about one to li^ feet high. 



3.) Bhode Island Bent Grass, Agrostis canina, is grown 

 in the New England States, especially in Rhode Island, in 

 limited quantities, and shows in the genuine species a 

 similar character as our South German Floringrass, true 

 Agrostis stolonifera. According to the tests and trials 

 made by Mr. Edgar Brown, Botanist in charge, Washing- 

 ton, D. C, it is not grown in the pure variety in the New 

 England States, but always mixed with common Ameri- 

 can Red Top, so that it can in no way be identified with 

 the true South German Floringrass. 



In the "Baltic Provinces" no Agrostis stolonifera, 

 neither a rough nor a fine growing variety, is to be found, 

 and the statements of the writer of the article in question 

 seem to point out the intention of discrediting the match- 

 less true South German Agrostis stolonifera, Floringrass, 

 but in a very incorrect manner, using Agrostis which is 

 absolutely of no true origin, but perhaps the Agrostis from 

 the Baltic provinces, which nobody knows or has seen, 

 except the writer of the article. 



It may very often be rather difficult to find out at first 

 sight, if a delivery of German Floringrass is mixed with 

 American Red Top, but the sowing always proves an adul- 

 teration very easily found by the character of the Plants, 

 as the two varieties differ greatly from one another by 

 their characteristics. The value of the two species and 

 their applicability is not the same, one should therefore 

 take such falsifications and the propaganda, in which 

 way it may be made — to put it very mildly — as a mysti- 

 fication of the buyer, as such doings are giving great harm 

 and damage to the trade not only of the buyer, but also 

 of the correct supplier of genuine seed. 



For this reason it is advisable to buy true South German 

 Floringrass, Agrostis stolonifera, under a strict guarantee 

 for genuineness, purity and growth and from competent 

 German dealers and to have the deliveries tested in Zurich 

 by the Swiss Seed Testing Station, which is the oldest 

 and most experienced Station in the world. Merely in 

 this way the interest of the buyer of true South German 

 dainty growing Floringrass can be carried out and one 

 can attain a protection against adulterations, and besides 

 one is able to find out the suppliers of mixed and adul- 

 terated Agrostis stolonifera and to put an end to their 

 incorrect manipulations. 



In conclusion I believe that the article in question 

 makes the impression to every attentive reader that the 

 writer, who seems to be the agent of an English or Dutch 

 firm for Red Clover, of a non-German firm for Agrostis 

 stolonifera and other grass Seeds, and of a Danish firm 

 for Vegetable Seeds, had the intention to propagate by 

 his incorrect statements for his agencies, and in first line 

 for the firm which is the supplier of the "Baltic Agrostis 

 stolonifera," in order to reach big sales for the letter; 

 this intention is certainly to be considered as an abortive 

 attempt. 



CONRAD APP^L. 



