No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 2r!i 



Clover. This was not recorded therefore as "impurity" iu the tables 

 of "foreign seeds." 



Ooim Gromiuell (Lithosi)ermum arveose L.) Salfern Stojiesi'ed. 

 An annual or biennial plant naturalized from Europe. It is a 

 weed of our fields east of the Mississippi river, grows 6 to 20 inches 

 high, and has small white flowers. The seeds are "brown, wrinkled 

 and pitted, with two flat sides showing that four seeds are clustered 

 about the pistil of the flower. The seeds in very small quantity 

 were found iu but one sample (No. 94), of Crimson Clover. The Crom- 

 well seed is much larger than that of Crimson Clover, and hence can 

 be easily removed. 



Curled Dock (Rumex crispus L.) This troublesome weed was 

 introduced from Europe and now occurs throughout the United 

 States. The seeds occur very commonly as an impurity in farm seeds. 

 The seed of Curled Dock maj- be recognized as a triangular seed 

 about the size of Red Clover seed, and of a beautiful, glossy, nutbrown 

 color. It was generally present in the Orchard Grass, Kentucky 

 Blue Grass, Alsike and Red Clover. 



linger Grass (Syntherisraa sanguinalis (L.) Nash.) Large Crab 

 Grass This comuion weedy grass, brought to us from Europe, is 

 found in all cultivated regions. The seed was present in only three 

 samples of Red Clover and one of Millet. It was in inexcusable 

 abundance in the Millet. 



tlax (Linum usitatissimum L.) Linseed. Flax often escapes from 

 cultivation and lingers about as a weed. The flat shining seeds are 

 well known to farmers and when present among grasses or clovers 

 may be easily distinguished. They were only very rarel}' present in 

 the samples examined. 



Green Foxtail Grass (Ixophorus viridis (L.) Nash.) This annual 

 grass and its companion the Yellow Foxtail Grass are well known 

 to every person who has entered a corn field in the fall. They came 

 to this country from Europe many years ago and found that our cli- 

 mate in all parts of the United States was favorable to their growth. 

 The seed is often present in farm seeds and every farmer should have 

 in a small vial a sample of the cured seed of this and indeed of all 

 the obnoxious weeds of his farm, and thus be aided in determining 

 the impurities of the seeds he uses. Green Foxtail Grass seed was 

 most frequently present in the samples of Red Clovers, but occa- 

 sionally also in Crimson Clover and Timothy. 



Heal-all (Prunella vulgaris L.) Self-IIeal. This pernicious little 

 weed i» a member of the Mint family of plants, has a square stem, 

 opposite leaves, and a terminal spike of purple flowers. In the lawn 

 it persists in liolding on, spreading and killing out the Blue Grass. 

 In the fields it is no blessing, though less of a curse than upon the 

 18—6—1901 



