162 
ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1905 OF THE 
CONSULTING BOTANIST. 
During the past year, 242 applications from members of the 
Society have been dealt with. Of these, 131 related to the 
quality of seeds ; their purity was determined and their 
germination was tested. Eleven per cent, of the clover seeds 
were condemned because of the presence of the seeds of dodder 
in the samples. No less than 6 per cent, of the seeds of this 
parasite were found in two samples of red clover. 
The injury to the clover crop from the use of doddered 
seed is only realised by those that have experienced it. Dodder 
is a conspicuous plant, and cannot be mistaken for any other 
weed. It is somewhat later in germinating than the clover, 
for it is entirely dependent on this plant for its living. The 
seed does not contain any stored up food ; it is entirely filled 
with the coiled up wormlike embryo of the plant. When this 
develops it pushes itself up into the air, while the lower end 
keeps hold of the ground. The upper part of the ascending 
stem bends over nearly at a right angle, and turns round in 
search of a clover plant on which it can live. If this does not 
come within reach of its sweep, it exhausts itself within four 
days, and dies. When it succeeds in finding a clover plant, 
the slender stem twines round the clover, and pushes out many 
suckers which penetrate the skin of the stem ; through these it 
obtains its food, weakening the clover and by its rapid growth 
killing plant after plant. When it appears, the clover should 
be dug up with the parasite and burned. When it has widely 
•spread, a trench should be dug round the injured plants and 
straw or any inflammable refuse should be spread over the 
patch and set on fire so as to destroy all the vegetation. 
The germination of the clovers was satisfactory, and so also 
were the germination and purity of the grasses examined. Some 
of the latter contained grains of ergot, a fungus which attacks 
all kinds of pasture grasses. Ergoted seeds should not be used. 
It is important to point out again the unwisdom of using 
ready-mixed seeds. These may be made the vehicle of 
spreading worthless weeds and grasses in the pasture, as the 
presence of their seeds is not easily detected by the farmer. 
The different kinds of seeds to be used in the pasture should 
be purchased separately and mixed by the farmer. A guarantee 
