790 
CLOVER-DODDER. 
No sooner is the foster* parent clasped than the parasite 
sends out a ring of aerial rootlets which penetrate the tissue 
of the former, and from that time it is a true parasite which 
soon branches out its long wiry arms in every direction, 
clasping new plants and increasing the area of its operations. 
1. Dodder seed. 
2. Ditto germinated. 
3. Dodder commencing to clasp a clover plant. 
4. Dodder lifted out of the soil by the growth of the clover plant, to 
which it is becoming parasitic. 
Formerly the presence of this pest denoted foreign seed, as 
dodder seed seldom ripened in this country. This year 
it has increased to a much greater extent than usual, as the 
summers of 1868-9 and 1870 were very hot. The illustrations 
depicted above are from actual experiments made with dodder 
seed ripened on my own farm, a chance, however, which I 
had previously been many years on the look-out for without 
success. I think the 'best way to get rid of the parasite is 
to put a handful of straw over the circular patches and set 
it on fire ; hut I should still be thankful if some kind friend 
would let it ripen its seed, and send me some of it. 
As regards the effects of dodder on animals, it may be well 
to remark that the species affecting flax, C. epilinum , some- 
times occurs in such quantity as to make it a matter of im- 
portance to find out its specific qualities ; thus, some few years 
ago, Professor Voelcker had the greater portion of seven sacks 
of flax dodder sent for analysis. 
Of course organic analysis would not decide the question ; 
but we may conclude from dodder being so near an ally of the 
jalaps that its seed may possibly possess more or less the pur- 
gative properties of the family, an opinion in which we are con- 
firmed by a peculiar jalap-like flavour of the seeds themselves. 
