326 Report of the Consulting Botanist for 1885. 
seldom in such good condition as those of the meadow fescue^ 
but there has been in the samples of the year a decided im- 
provement. Only 6 per cent, have germinated under 60 in the 
100, and no less than (M per cent, have germinated more than 
in the 100. In two cases ergot was present in the samples. 
The smaller fescues (sheep's fescue, hard fescue, and red 
fescue) have been very irregular in their germination. The 
true sheep's fescue (a small smooth seed) has in no case ger- 
minated more than half the seeds, while the hard fescues have 
been more frequently from 80 to 90 per cent. Molinia coerulea, 
Moench., a worthless grass found in wet moors, has been used 
as an adulterant in hard fescue. 
The samples of cocksfoot [Dacti/lis glomerata. Linn.) were, on 
the whole, pure. In 18 per cent, there was an appreciable 
quantity of the seeds of other grasses present, but in no case did 
they amount to 20 per cent. Only 8 per cent, of the samples 
germinated less than the half of the seeds, and 75 per cent, 
germinated more than 80 seeds to the 100. 
The great improvement in the quality of the seeds is as 
obvious in foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis. Linn.) as in any other 
grass. Only four years ago, in fixing a minimum standard 
to guide the members in purchasing seeds, the Council recom- 
mended that the germination of foxtail should be not less than 
20 per cent. ; owing to the improvement in the seeds the per- 
centage was raised two years ago to 50, and this year, as only 
3 per cent, germinated less than half the seeds, there is no 
reason why it might not be again considerably raised. As this 
is so important a grass, and its great defect hitherto has been the 
lowness of its germination, it is very gratifying to find that the 
samples this year had such a high percentage. Twenty per cent.^ 
germinated between 50 and 60 in the 100 ; 27 per cent, between 
60 and 70 ; 44 per cent, between 70 and 80 ; and 6 per cent., 
germinated more than 80 in the 100. The chief cause of the 
lowness of germination in this grass has been the harvesting of 
the seed before it was ripe. But, besides this, the seed is subject 
to the attack of thrips. The eggs of the insect are hatched 
in the flower, and the insect itself passes through its various 
stages within the glumes, living on the seed. In seeds of the 
previous harvest the insect is generally found in the grub con- 
dition, a small, broadly oval, segmented worm, of a pale-yellow 
colour. The adult insect, which has a shining black body and 
long fringed wings, is not infrequent, but I have never found it 
alive. In all the samples examined by me this year I have 
found the thrips, — from 2 to 22 per cent, of the seeds having 
been destroyed by them. 
Some of the samples of florin are largely composed of chaffy 
