Report of the Consulting Botanist for 18S5 
The most important assistance that the Council have obtained' 
in their efforts to improve the quality of seeds supplied to 
growers has been the step taken by H.M. Office of Works, in 
inviting tenders for the supply of grass seeds of a guaranteed 
purity and quality. At the request of the Department, I pre- 
pared a list of seeds suitable to this purpose, and specified for 
each a percentage of germination which could easily be obtained. 
The tender was to be framed on these minimum rates ; but to 
encourage merchants to offer the best seeds, payment is to be 
made pro rata for every completed 5 per cent, beyond the 
specified amount. The seeds are to be delivered in bulk, and 
the report of the Consulting Botanist of either this Society, the 
Highland and Agricultural Society, or the Royal Dublin Society 
is to be final. 
The terms proposed and adopted w ere the following : 
1. The seeds must be true to the species ordered. 
2. There must not be more than 5 per cent, of seeds of other 
species than that ordered. 
3. The grass seeds must be free from ergot. 
4. The clover seeds must be free from dodder and broom 
rape. 
5. The seeds must germinate not less than 90 per cent, for 
Dactylis glomerata, Festuca pratensis, Phleum pratense, Cpnosuru.^ 
cristatus, and the clovers ; 75 per cent, for Fcstuca elatior, Poa 
trivialis, Poa pratensis, Agrostis stolonifera, and Festuca durius- 
cula ; and 60 per cent, for Aloptcurus pratensis, Anthoxanthuni 
odoratum, and Avena JIavescens. 
6. The higher value of a seed evidenced by a superior germi- 
nation will be paid for, pro rata for each completed 5 per cent, 
beyond the amounts specified, 
7. The reports on the conditions specified of the Consulting 
Botanist either of the Royal Agricultural Society of England, 
the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, or the Royal 
Dublin Society will be final. 
Several cases of oats destroyed by vibrios have been brought 
under my notice. The injury seems to have been somewhat 
frequent this year in different parts of England. It appears in 
the early summer. The oats having made some progress, and 
attained a height of from four to six inches, have their growth 
arrested, and the plants when closely examined are found to 
have a number of curled-up, twisted, and knotted shoots, at the 
base of the stem under the ground, or just above the surface. 
The injured plants occur in patches over the field, though 
sometimes the whole field is equally affected. When an injured 
plant is carefully examined, it is found that the first or main 
stem is dead. This has been caused by the attack of micro- 
