TMPORTF.n l.OW-C.RADF. CLOVER AND ALFALFA SEF.D. 



19 



Tablk I. ~ Analyses of r,l samples of low-grade red clover seed imported during the year 



ended June 30, 1906 — (V)ntiiuii'<l. 



In more than one-half of the sixty-one samples of which an analy- 

 sis is given the weight of 1,000 seeds is less than a gram, while 1,000 

 good plump seeds weigh H grams or more. These lots contain an 

 average of only 43.1 per cent of live red clover seed and much of the 

 seed that will germinate is worthless for seeding purposes, as it is of 

 small size, immature, and of low vigor. 



It is often claimed that seed of this kind is imported to be recleaned 

 before it is put on the market. This, however, can not be the case, 

 as in the importations referred to the average cost of the red glover 

 seed that will grow is S20.39 per hundred pounds on the basis of the 

 average import price of $7.61 per hundred pounds. At the time 

 this seed was imported five lots of high-grade seed were offered for 

 sale to the Department of Agriculture at an average price of $15.05 

 per hundred pounds, the average cost of the red clover seed that 

 germinated being $15.59 per hundred pounds. In other words, one 



111— III 



