No 6. DEPARTMENl' OF AGRICULTURE. ^57 



TIMOTHY. 



Ordinarily, Tiniotli^ seed is exceedingly pure because it is easily 

 cleaned, and the nature of the seed will uot permit of adulterations, 

 as in the case of other grasses. Among thirty-nine samples ex- 

 amined only three fell slightly below the required standard, and five 

 of them were so nearly perfect, that they were rated 100 per cent, in 

 purity. The quantity of weed seed was excessive in but a few sam- 

 ples and the obnoxious kinds were commonly the seeds of Lamb's 

 Quarters and Kugel's Plantain. Nos. 81, 1)1 and 99 were labeled 

 "Star Timothy." No. 100 was labeled "A No. 1," No. 88 "S. P. 

 V. Timothy," and No. 204, "Choice." These were alike in being 

 exceedingly clean and having high germinative power. 

 . Old seeds failed rapidly in germination. While the age of the 

 sam})les was uot generally reported, it is not difficult to select from 

 the table below the seeds which were not fresh. Sample No. 211 

 was i^ only one reported as of the crop of 1898, but before the 

 germination tests were made, a record in our books was made of 

 the "dull appearance of seed" in samples No. 124, 149 and 164. These 

 four samples all failed to reach even 80 per cent, in germination. 

 In consequence of this, sample No. 124 was the most costly Timothy 

 seed for the farmer to buy. The standard per cent, of germination 

 fixed by the United States Department of Agriculture, 85-90 per 

 cent, for Timothy, can be easily maintained by the seedsman, and 

 it is quite certain to reject old seed. 



17— G— 1901 



