54 



Finally, when any one kind of weed seed is present in appreciable quan- 

 tities in a sample of seed it should figiae in the report with its name and 

 weight. As the proportion of extraneous useful seeds is of interest, it is 

 advisable to give the results of analysis as follows, a complicated example 

 having been selected purposely : 



Pure Seeds 

 Extraneovs Seeds — 

 (Useful seeds) 



a - . 



b 



(Weed seeds) 

 c 

 d 



e - . . - 



various ... 



Inert Matter — 



Earth and stones 



Vegetable d6bris (leaves, stems, broken 



seeds, etc.). 



100-00 



If wished, a and b, or c, d and o can come under one weight. In 

 the case of seeds of parasitic plants like Dodder, the number and not the 

 weight shoTild be stated. 



This method will not be new to some stations', which for a long time 

 have given a more or less complete list of the impurities contained in 

 the samples tested. 



(A full copy of this paper in French wiU be found on 

 pp. 154^158.) 



Mr. Z)p>"^^-Pe<er5en called attention to a paper, " Examinations 

 of the occurrence and vitality of various weed seed species under 

 different conditions, made at the Danish State Seed Testing 

 Station during the years 1896-1923," copies of which were 

 circulated. These examinations confirm fully the truth of the old 

 saying : " Evil weeds never wither," as many species of weed seed 

 have proved able to retain their germinating capacity in the soil 

 for many years. They pass partly uninjured through the digestive 

 system of animals as well as through the mill. This shows the 

 necessity of recording on the analysis certificates the percentage of 

 weed seed and the number per kg. of noxious weed seeds occurring 

 in the samples sent in for testing (see paper on pp. 124-138). 



The Delegates from Egypt, the Argentine, Hungary, and the 

 Ukraine, took part in the discussion which followed. The sugges- 

 tion was made that each country should submit to the European 

 Seed Testing Association (now the International Seed Testing 

 Association — see later) a Hst of the noxious weeds in which it is 

 specially interested. It was agreed that this and similar questions 

 discussed should be considered by the appropriate Committee 

 of the Association to be appointed on Thursday afternoon. 



Dr. von Degen presented, but did not read his Report (copy of 

 which is appended) on the work of the Dodder Committee, of which 

 he was appointed Chairman at the Copenhagen Conference in 1921. 



