97 



(d) 1,000 grain weights. — The 1,000 grain-weights of 20 samples each 

 of red-clover from Stockholms Lan harvested in 1921 and 1922 showed :^ 



The 5 samples examined as to accessory species gave a fresh-weight 

 of 1-71-2 -07, average 1-87, and a dried -weight of 1-52-1 -79, average 

 1-61. 



Sir Lawrertce Weaver said he felt sure the meeting would be 

 impressed by the skill with which Dr. Volkart had prepared his 

 report and that they would be distressed to learn that he felt 

 unable to undertake the development of his enquiry. It would 

 be necessary at to-morrow's meeting of the Seed Testing Congress 

 to make arrangements for carrying on this work. 



Dr. Volkart then brought to the notice of the meeting the 

 following paper by Mr. Tryti (Norway) : — 



New Methods for the Determination of the Origin of Seed. 



BY 



G. Teyti, 

 State Seed Control Institution, Christiania (Oslo). 



Introduction. 



About 30 years ago Professor Bastian Larsen, the founder of the 

 Norwegian experimental stations for plant cultivation and official seed 

 control, showed by his experiments that Norwegian and northern-grown 

 seed of clover, timothy and other species produces a considerably more 

 abundant crop than seed from southern countries. The same thing 

 had previously been demonstrated in Denmark by Mr. P. Nielsen, the 

 founder of the Danish Government's experiments in plant culture. It is, 

 consequently, of the greatest importance to determine the origin of seed, 

 and it is regrettable that so little has been done in Norway in this matter. 

 I will endeavour to explain briefly some new methods which, according 

 to my view, we ought to follow if we are to make any progress in solving 

 the problems that arise. , 



1. Characteristic Seed. 



To specialists this method is so familiar that I shall only touch on the 

 subject lightly. The so-called characteristic seed (leading species) is 

 seed peculiar to certain countries. One gets, for instance, seed with 

 characteristics of its Russian or American origin, &c. The characteristic 

 seed spreads, however, through the channels of commerce and com- 

 munication, and will, in this way, soon become an uncertain and unreliable 

 criterion in the determination of origin. If, moreover, a sample is 

 devoid of characteristic seed, testing by this means can tell nothing 

 as to its origin. I should like, however, to suggest that by identifying 

 parts of the stalks or leaves of characteristic plants, an expedient 

 might be used to reinforce the old method. For instance, in samples 

 a 23301 D 



