New York AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 207 
pots in a moist inoculation chamber in the Station greenhouse. In 
every case the dodder grew out promptly, established itself on the 
new plants and there made a profuse growth. 
Our observations cover only three springs: viz.: Those of 1906, 
1907 and 1908. But Mr. F. E. Dawley of Fayetteville, N. Y., as- 
sures us that he observed live dodded early in the spring of 1903, 
1904, 1905 and 1906 before there had been time for it to come from 
seed. For several years Mr. Dawley has been a close observer of 
alfalfa and dodder and knows whereof he speaks. Even before 
learning of our observations he expressed the opinion (in conversa- 
tion) that dodder lives over winter. 
Owing to their more spreading habit, the crowns of yellow trefoil 
and red clover form a better wintering place for dodder than do 
alfalfa crowns. Daisy fleabane, also, seems to be a favorite winter 
host for dodder. 
Undoubtedly, dodder lives over winter in New York alfalfa fields 
on alfalfa, yellow trefoil, red clover, dandelion and daisy fleabane. 
This is not accidental or occasional, but of common occurrence. In 
the writers’ opinion it is the chief method by which dodder is car- 
ried over from one year to the next in New York alfalfa fields. It 
is likely that the seed, also, is an important factor, sometimes, but, 
as has already been pointed out, dodder usually fails to produce seed 
in New York. 
Although it may be found alive at any time during the spring, 
dodder does not commence to grow vigorously until the latter part 
of May. When dodder is in active growth free threads 12 to 16 
inches in length may be found running along on the surface of the 
soil until they come in contact with alfalfa or other stems about 
which they may twine. Cuscuta epithymum grown on potted alfalfa 
plants in the Station greenhouse has produced threads over three 
feet in length. (See Plate XX, fig. 1.) The threads are freely 
branched, clusters of one to four branches (always of unequal 
length) appearing in the axils of the scales. 
METHODS OF ERADICATION. 
By giving careful attention to the purity of all alfalfa and clover 
seed used on the farm, trouble with dodder is avoided, almost en- 
tirely ; but where such precautions are not taken the pest is liable to 
be introduced and cause so much damage that something must be 
done to get rid of it. 
Badly infested fields should be plowed up. Oftentimes it.is diffi- 
