Report of the Consulting Botanist for 1886. 317 
a considerable number grew over 90 per cent. The smooth- 
stalked meadow grass (^Poa pratensis, Linn.) was free from 
admixture of other seeds ; the germination, however, averaged 
less than 50 per cent. The wood meadow grass (Poa 7ientoralis, 
Linn.) contained in the majority of samples the seeds of tufted 
hair-grass (Aira csespitosa, Linn.), and in some small seeds of 
cock's-foot. 
The small annual vernal grass (Anthoxanthum Puelii, Lecoq. 
and Lam.) was absent from all the samples of sweet vernal 
grass that were examined by me. The average germination of 
this grass was 54 per cent. 
The samples of dog's-tail {^Cynosurus cristatus, Linn.) were 
free from admixture with other seeds, and the germination had 
average of 83 per cent. 
Fiorin ( Agrostis alba, var. stolonifera, Linn.) contained ergot 
in each specimen that came into my hands. The germination 
an of this grass averaged over 90 per cent. 
The clovers were generally pure ; the samples of Alsyke were 
quite free from dodder, but 16 per cent, of the samples of red 
clover contained the seeds of this destructive parasite. Sorrel 
is a very common weed in clover-seed, and a large number of 
the samples of white clover this year contained considerable 
quantities of it. The germination of the clover-seeds was 
satisfactory. Red clover (Trifolium pratense, Linn.) had an 
average of 95 per cent, of germinating seeds ; white or Dutch 
clover ( T. repens, Linn.) average 90 per cent. ; Alsyke ( T. 
hybridum. Linn.) germinated 95 per cent. ; and trefoil, or yellow 
clover (^Medicago lupulina, Linn.), had an average of 94 per cent, 
germinating seed. 
The grass mixtures that I have examined during the year 
have been of a much better quality than in previous years ; but 
I have still abundant evidence that those mixtures, as a rule, 
supply a very poor material for the production of good pastures, 
and are the chief means of introducing worthless grasses and 
weeds into meadows. Thus, a sample supplied to one of the 
members of the Society as an " autumn mixture of grass and 
clovers," consisted of 50 per cent. Italian rye-grass, 25 per cent, 
common rye-grass, 2 per cent, each of dog's-tail, Yorkshire fog, 
and brome grass, and 19 per cent, of clovers; another, as 
"grasses and clovers for one year's hay," consisted of 12 per 
cent., Timothy, 25 per cent, rye-grass, 44 per cent, clovers, and 
13 per cent, of turnip- or some allied seed. 
In the seeds of cereals, I have to note the presence of a con- 
siderable quantity of Bromus secalinus, Linn., a troublesome 
weed, which, when present in any quantity in grain, gives a 
bitter taste to the flour. A sample of wheat which looked well 
