No. 6. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 275 



reputation. It is piobably all over the Uuited States. The seed 

 is shiiiiug bi'owu, boat-shaped, about the size of Crimson Clover seed. 

 It Nvas tlic most frequently present of all the weed seeds in the clo- 

 ver and occasionally in the grasses. In some samples it occurred 

 in large quantities, as is shown in the appropriate tables. 



HugeVs /^(?a«to/Vi (Plantago Rugelii Dec.) This plantain resembles 

 our common Flautain (P. major L.) The seed is black with a light 

 colored spot on the tlat side. It might easily be mistaken for mouse 

 dirt in Clover seed unless one should use a magnifying glass. This 

 was most frequently an impurity of the Timothy seed and often as 

 many as 2,000 to 3,000 seeds to the pound of sample. 



Rye Grass (Lolium perenne L.) This grass weed of cultivated 

 grounds is widely spread in this country but is a native of the Old 

 World. Its seeds are seldom present in the ordinary farm seeds. 

 Among all the samples submitted for examination it was contained 

 in but two of them, these being of Blue Grass, and then only in small 

 quantities. 



Sedge (Carex sp.) Several Sedges are weeds in wet lands, and 

 may often be found occupying wet spots in meadows, from which 

 they do not go very far astray. The seeds are usually triangular or 

 flat. A species of Carex having a flat brown seed was present in 

 nearly all the samples of Blue Grass, but in no case among other 

 kinds of seeds. 



Sheejp Sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.) A common and persistent 

 weed known everywhere. Though quite small it grows and thrives 

 along with any crop that may be planted. It loves particularly 

 sour and sterile land. The seed when it occurs as an impurity of 

 farm seeds may have two appearances, one the shining brown, trian- 

 gular form common to Eumex, and the other with a dull brown 

 reticulated surface due to the covering which the seed usually re- 

 tains. This seed is very generally present in farm seed. It is so 

 much like Alsike in general appearance that it is diflficult to separate 

 the two thoroughly, consequently we find it as a serious adulterant 

 of Alsike. 



Spotted Spurge. (Euphorbia nutans Lag.) This Spurge is seen 

 commonly in thickets and cornfields but may be found in some 

 places among the clover. It is an annual that gives but little an- 

 noyance as a weed. The very small globular seeds are seldom pres- 

 ent in well cleaned seeds. They were found only in three samples of 

 Red Clover. 



Timothy (Phleum pratense L.) Timothy seed occurred as an im- 

 purity in all kinds of farm seeds examined in greater or less quanti- 

 ties. It was most abundant and at the same time most serious in 



