298 Annual Report for 1887 of the Consultinrj Botanist, 
They should not be used, ov, if used, it should be in such largely- 
increased quantity as to make up for the loss of vitality. Sweet 
vernal grass gave only a little over 50 per cent, of germination 
in the average. One sample had a considerable mixture of the 
annual vernal grass (Antlioxanthum puellii), and another had a 
large quantity of the minute seeds of the Wood Rush (Luzida 
campestris). Only one sample of fiorin was free from ergot. 
Considering the questionable value of this grass, it seems to me 
more than doubtful whether a farmer is not paying too great a 
price for it when he almost certainly introduces with it the 
dangei'ous ergot into his pasture. 
The clovers have been more impure than usual. Over a half 
of the white clovers contained an appreciable quantity of weeds, 
and in some the quantity was considerable. In the red clovers 
40 per cent., and in alsikes 20 per cent., contained impurities, 
and in most of these the seeds of dodder were among the im- 
purities. This dangerous weed, being smaller than the clover 
seeds, could easily be separated from them by a cleaning-machine ; 
but, unhappily, not a few seed-merchants do not know the seeds 
of dodder, and, consequently, they ignorantly distribute the un- 
clean seed. Some even deny that the dodder can be detected 
in the clover seed. It is not met with among the seeds of white 
clover, but is too frequent in alsike and red clover. Last 
summer a member lost a considerable quantity of spring tares 
from dodder appearing and rapidly develojiing on them. The 
loss was the greater because of the want of food during a dry 
summer. The germination of the clovers has been satisfactory; 
there has, however, been a considerable range in their vitality. 
In some extremely good samples of red clover every seed ger- 
minated, but one fell so low as 34' per cent., while in alsike the 
best germinated 98 per cent., and the worst was not more than 
30 per cent., that is to say, three pounds of the poorer seed in 
these two clovei'S would be required to produce the same number 
of plants as would grow from one pound of the better samples, 
though possibly the price per pound of each was the same. 
Having been informed bj' Mr. De Laune that Mr. Moore, of 
the Royal Botanic Gardens, Glasnevin, Dublin, had been gi'ow- 
ing for some years an experimental plot of the ti'ue cowgrass 
(Trifoliiim medium), I applied to Mr. Moore with the view of 
procuring some of the seed. He has been so good as to send 
me a small quantity, which I propose to sow at Wobum along- 
side of the ex])erimental clover plots. This is a truly perennial 
plant, and is the only red clover specially fitted for permanent 
pasture. The ])lant has a zigzag stem, taking an obviously 
different direction at each leaf, and the round head of flowers is 
borne on a short, leafless stalk. The two species can be easily 
