TlIK nri.i.KTix. 47 



iiicrl iiialtcr; niiy uf these iiiny lie present by delilieriite adiiliei-at inn or 

 otherwise. The opporttmilies for a(hiheriii ion vary _i>i-oatly vtiih the 

 differeui kinds of seeds, as the size, t'onn, and (-(dor of sonic ai<' not 

 consi)ic'nously diifcreiU froiu those of nimdi cheaper and less desirable 

 seeds Avhicdi arc often used as adulterants. Some seeds wliieh ean sue- 

 cessfully be adulterated are the grasses, alfalfa, and red cdover, while 

 other seeds as white and alsike clover have form and color more strik- 

 ingly peculiar to each, and oilier kinds of seeds cannot be so successfully 

 employed as adulterants. 



It is nor so serious when commercial seeds are used as adulterants as 

 when noxious seeds are used. The chief objection to the use of com- 

 mercial seeds as adulterants, is that the purchaser does not get the crop 

 he desires, and that he pays a higher ])rice than the value of the seed. 

 Illustrations of the adulteration of agricultural seeds, with other com- 

 mercial seeds, are English rye grass and meadow fescue used to adulterate 

 orchard grass; red-to]) adulterated with Avhite clover and timothy; Ken- 

 tticky blue-grass adulterated with Canada blue-grass; crimson clover 

 adulterated with common millet ; and winter vetch adulterated with 

 spring vetch. A test of winter vetch made at this laboratory a short 

 time ago w^as adulterated 75 per cent with the cheaper and inferior spring 

 vetch seed. The adulteration of alfalfa and red clover Avith trefoil and 

 burr clover (not the commercial burr clover, but an inferior, imported 

 seed) is more serious; and of still graver seriousness is the presence, in 

 large amounts, of noxious seeds like cheat, w^ild mustard, wild carrot, 

 ox-eye daisy, buckhorn, and dodder. Such seeds should be generally 

 knowai, and it is believed that the effort required in learning them is 

 thoroughly justified, as the soAving of seed Avhich contain seeds of these 

 pernicious Aveeds could then be avoided. By referring to the illustrations, 

 it is hoped that the farmer may familiarize himself Avith these impuri- 

 ties. Besides being soavu along Avith agricultural seeds, Aveeds may also 

 be introduced upon land by the use of unground feed-stuff, Avliich often 

 contains a high per cent of noxious Aveed seeds. 



Seeds are not only adulterated, but are often misbranded. Illustra- 

 tions of this are seeds labelled "Fancy Kentucky Blue-grass," "Genuine 

 Fancy Kentucky Blue-grass," "Strictly Choice Kentucky Blue-grass," 

 and all being entirely Canada blue-grass. Other samples Avhicli haA'e 

 come to our notice had equally high-sounding names and AA'ere adulter- 

 ated Avith Canada blue-grass from 35 per cent to 55 per cent. Clovers 

 and other seeds besides grasses are also often misbranded. 



Weeds upon the farm is not a matter to be considered lightly, as their 

 injurious effects are many, they impair the quality and reduce the quan- 

 tity of the crop in AAdiich they occur, besides being injurious to the land 

 upon Avliich they are alloAved to groAv by using up plant food and moist- 

 ure from the soil. They make the preparation and cultivation of the 

 land more difficult and render a place unsightly. Some Aveeds are 

 poisonous, often causing much loss. A number of inquiries have been 



