LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL. 



U. S. Department of Agriculture, 



Bureau of Plant Industry, 



Office of the Chief, 



Washington^ D. C.^ July 15^ 1905. 



Sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith and to recommend for 

 publication as Bulletin No. 84 of the series of this Bureau the accom- 

 panying technical paper entitled "The Seeds of the Bluegrasses." 



This paper was prepared b}^ Mr. Edgar Brown, Botanist in Charge 

 of the Seed Laboratory, and Mr. F. H. Hillman, Assistant Botanist, 

 Seed Laboratory, and has been submitted with a view to publication. 



The bluegrasses are among the most important forage plants in 

 many sections of the United States and Europe, and large quantities 

 of seed are harvested annually for use in this country and for expor- 

 tation. 



The process of cleaning the seed of the bluegrasses for market is 

 such that many of the distinguishing characters are lost, and separate 

 descriptions are necessary for the hand-picked and commercial seed of 

 the same species. 



The seeds of the different commercial species are so nearly alike in 

 general appearance that at present none but the trained observer can 

 distinguish between them. This similarity of appearance has encour- 

 aged the use of the cheaper and less desirable species, especially 

 Canada bluegrass, for the adulteration of or substitution for the more 

 expensive species. 



The descriptions and illustrations herewith given of the bluegrasses 

 and of their impurities will be of great value in furnishing seedsmen 

 the necessary information to enable them to distinguish the different 

 species. 



The accompanying illustrations are necessary for a complete under- 

 standing of the text. 



Respectfully, B. T. Galloway, 



Chief of Bureau. 



Hon. James Wilson, 



Secretary of Agriculture. 



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