196 REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY OF THE 
In experimenting with some samples of alfalfa seed infested 
with narrow-leaved plantain (Plantago lanceolata) it was observed 
that the sifting for dodder reduced considerably the percentage 
of plantain.*** The results of three experiments with three dif- 
ferent lots of seed are shown in the following table: 
TABLE I.— SHOWING RESULTS oF SIFTING ALFALFA SEED TO REMOVE SEED 
OF NARROW-LEAVED PLANTAIN (Plantago lanceolata). 





| Ist SIFTING. 2p SIFTING. TOTAL. 
Number 
Sos tan MS 
ais anceoiata | Number Number Number 
ment. : pends an seeds | Percentage| seeds g |Percentage | seeds Percentage 
ke : ‘ftis ore | per lb. | removed. per lb. removed. | ? per lb. removed. 
eSUTINg.  |removed. removed. removed. 
Bi 
1 eas 416 128 30.76 16 3.84 144 34.61 
1 ORR mo 544 160 29.4 32 5.88 192; 35.29 
BOWES eee 543 154 28.36 85 1565 239 44.01 

It is to be hoped, that in the future, seed dealers will take more 
care to remove dodder from their alfalfa seed. Farmers should 
aid the movement for better seeds by refusing their patronage to 
firms offering adulterated and dodder-infested seed for sale. Some 
seed dealers advertise alfalfa seed sifted according to the method 
recommended by the Experiment Station. This is well, but we 
would caution farmers against placing implicit confidence in such 
seed. Samples should be submitted to the Station for analysis just 
the same as in other cases. The sifting may not have been done 
properly. In the spring of 1907 a Geneva farmer brought to the 
Station 9o lbs. of alfalfa seed which he had purchased with the 
understanding that it had been thoroughly sifted as directed by the 
Station. Resifting this seed brought to light 660 seeds of one of 
the small-seeded kinds of dodder. 
DODDER. 
BRIEF GENERAL STATEMENT. 
Dodder is a yellowish, thread-like, twining plant which is very 
troublesome in alfalfa fields. It usually appears in circular spots 
three to thirty or more feet in diameter. At the center of the spot 
*“* For removal of plantain seed from alfalfa seed, see Shaw (Bur. Plant. 
Indus. Circ. No. 2). 
