274 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



lawu. The seeds are about the size of Red Clover seed, with the 

 shape of a Castor Oil bean, and a nut brown color. They were pres- 

 ent only in a few samples of Red Clover; in one case, over 6,000 

 seeds to the pound of sample. 



Lady's llaunl). (Polygonum Persicaria L.) This is another Eu- 

 ropean weed that has become common over the United States. It is 

 an annual that may be kept in subjection by cultivation where the 

 cultivator and hoe can be used. The seeds are about the size of 

 Crimson Clover seed, somewhat flattened, with a shining, ebony black 

 color. This impurity occurs very generally in the Clovers and occa- 

 sionally in Timothy and Blue Grass. 



LamVs Quarters (Chenopodium album L.) White Goose-foot. 

 Pigioeed. This common weed of our fields and gardens is very well 

 known, still but few persons are likely to recognize its seed when it oc- 

 curs as an impurity. A specimen of the ripened seed is easily ob- 

 tained and cleaned for reference and should be preserved for that 

 purpose by farmers and merchants who handle farm seeds. Seeds 

 of this weed were most commonly present in Timothy, though fre- 

 quently found also in Blue Grass and the Clovers. 



Meadow Fescue Grass (Festuca elatior L.) This grass is culti- 

 vated for fodder, but is widely distributed as a weed of the field east 

 of the Mississippi river. It is likely to be present in grass seeds 

 which resemble the seed of this Fescue, as in the case of Orchard 

 Grass. It was occasionally found in Blue Grass and Red Clover. 



Parsnip (Pastiuaca sativa L.) This plant is a weed that is fre- 

 quently seen in neglected fence rows, escaped from cultivation. The 

 large flat seeds easily recognized were strangely present in a sami)le 

 of Timothy, from which it could have easily been removed. 



Ptirs/i's Plantain (Plantago Purshii R. «& S.) This is a weed of 

 plains and prairies west of the Mississippi river that no doubt will 

 soon be, if not already, found in the east. The seed is boat-shaped 

 and closely resembles the seed of the Ribgrass or Buckhorn (P. 

 lanceolata) of our eastern fields. It is, however, larger and of a 

 jghter brown color, being almost white on the concave side. This 

 seed was present in a few samples each of the Orchard Grass, Blue 

 Grass and Red Clovers. 



Pagioeed (Ambrosia arteraisiaefolia L.) No weed is more common 

 in our neglected fields than this Ragweed. We cannot refer it to 

 Europe except as it has been introduced there from our country. 

 Farmers are well acquainted with its character and the appearance 

 of the seed. It is seldom present in properly cleaned seed; in fact, 

 it was found in but one out of 2.50 samples of seeds. 



Rih-r/ras^ (Plantago lanceolata L.) BucMorn, English Plantain. 

 This troublesome weed is another representative of Europe with a 



