368 Annual Report of the Consulting Botanist for 1884. 
From many cases that have come before the Committee, it is 
clear that many crushers make two classes of pure linseed-cake. 
On the one hand they make a cake labelled and invoiced 
pure from linseed as imported, and which, not infrequently, 
contains as much as 10 per cent, of weed-seeds and other 
matter. But for those who are inclined to give a higher price, 
they make a cake from linseed guaranteed to contain 95 per 
cent, of linseed which has been carefully screened since impor- 
tation. Purchasers should consider for themselves whether it is 
not better worth while to give the higher price, and insist on 
the higher standard. 
XV. — Annual Report of the Consulting Botanist for 1884, 
By W. Cakruthers, F.R.S. 
During the past year I have examined 701 samples of seeds 
for the Members of the Society, besides replying to inquiries 
regarding the nature, habits, and names of weeds, and the best 
way of dealing with them ; the diseases of cultivated plants ; 
and to various matters affecting the crops of the farm. 
I have examined 69 samples of meadow fescue, and 46 of tall 
fescue, in all 115 samples, as compared with 85 in the previous 
year. In dealing with them, it is not necessary this year to 
include these two species, as I have done before, under one 
head, for the samples of tall fescue, though sometimes consisting 
only of meadow fescue, have, to a large extent, been true to the 
species. Sixty-five per cent, of the samples of meadow fescue 
were free from weeds and seeds of other grasses, as against 
26 per cent, last year ; 31 per cent, had three-quarters or more 
of the seed true, and only 4 per cent, were more impure. 
The principal adulterant employed is rye-grass ; but the use of 
this seed is very greatly lessened, for it was found in only 
22 samples, and in 17 of these it did not amount to 25 per 
cent., though one sample contained 50 per cent, and another 
65 per cent., of this cheaper and less useful seed. Of the 
samples of tall fescue examined, 90 per cent, contained seeds of 
that grass, and of these, 24 per cent, were pure and true, 30 per 
cent, contained more or less of meadow fescue, and 9 per cent, 
consisted entirely of meadow fescue. Rye-grass was present in 
50 per cent., and in 3 per cent, of these it amounted to more 
than half of the seeds. These proportions represent a very 
remarkable improvement in the quality of these two important 
seeds, and this improvement is still more remarkable when we 
