88 



purpose the resolutions of the International Botanical Congress of 

 Vienna should be followed. I refer to the publication : " Regies 

 Internationales de la nomenclature botanique adoptees par le congrfe 

 international de Botanique." Jena. Gustav Fischer, 1912. 



The method of examination which we proposed (i.e., division of 

 the sample into tenths) has apparently proved sound, and should, 

 therefore, be followed in future. It is important that the actual number 

 of all species of weed seeds should always be ascertained. 



The method of examination of the mineral and organic impurities 

 of seeds should be further developed. For the present, however, this 

 question must be relegated to the background, and every endeavour 

 should be made to obtain as comprehensive a definition of the weed seeds 

 as possible. 



The definition of colour is clearly unsatisfactory. Although specimen 

 samples graded as to colour were sent out, the separation into the 

 five classes is still too much subject to the individual judgment of 

 the analyst. Exact instructions in this respect must be issued With 

 the samples. 



As regards the examination of the thousand-grain weight, the 

 Swedish definitions have shown that it is necessary, at any rate for the 

 Northern countries, to leave the samples for a sufficiently long time in 

 a dry room before they are examined, so that they may lose their excess 

 moisture. 



A method will have to be found for condensing the results which 

 will obviate particular samples containing an abnormal quantity of a 

 single given species of weed too strongly influencing the average of that 

 particular species. 



The speaker very much regrets that he is unable to continue to conduct 

 these investigations. However, he reconunends to you the acceptance of 

 the following conclusions and proposals : — 



1. The results so far obtained of the examination of red clover seed 

 of different origin, conducted according to the uniform method decided 

 on by the conference at Copenhagen, show that, in this manner, exact and 

 reliable descriptions of individual sources of origin can be obtained. These 

 investigations are, therefore, to be continued. 



2. It is of the utmost importance that the examinations shall continue 

 to be conducted in a uniform manner, and that the results of examinations 

 shall be published in such a manner that they are comparable one with 

 another, and can be made use of easily. 



3. The particular examinations are to be left in the hands of the 

 Institutes of the different countries, as hitherto. These Institutes 

 collect the samples and examine them according to uniform regulations. 

 The detailed results are to be published by the respective Institutes. 



4. The 4th Seed Testing Congress nominates as the Central Station 

 for this purpose a station which has distinguished, itseK in connection with 

 these examinations. The duties of this Central Station are : — 



(a) The further improvement and standardisation of the methods 

 of examination. 



(6) Instruction and assistance for the Institutes taking part in 

 the inquiry. 



(c) The preparation of short simmiaries of the results of the 

 examinations, their interpretation and circulation to the members 

 of the Association. 



(d) The carrying out of the inquiry for countries which are 

 unable to do it themselves. 



(e) Examination of particular groups of species which are of 

 special importance in the definition of origin and publication of 

 the distinctive marks of their seeds. Distribution of genuine 

 samples of seeds of these species to the different stations. 



(/) Creation of a record-office where the results of every single 

 examination are to be entered. 



