342 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



ix) continue, largely irrespective of laws to the contrary, until consumers 

 generally come to appreciate and accept only good seed. Consumers will 



need to know good seed from 

 poor and to understand that 

 the legitimate price of good 

 seed is actually lower than the 

 corresponding price of poor 

 seed which costs relatively 

 more to market, although the 

 original cost to the dealer 

 may be lower than that of 



high-grade seed. 



PURPOSE OF SEED 



TESTS. 

 The purpose of making tests 

 of farm seed is to detect the 

 undesirable conditions affect- 



FiG. 9. — Mixture of seeds of Kentucky blue- 

 grass (a) and Canada bluegrass (b). The 

 Kentucky bluegrass seeds are broadest at 

 the center, pointed, and have a distinct ridge 

 on each side. Canada bluegrass seeds are 

 mostly broadest near one end, blunt, and ing the Seed wllicll haVC been 

 smoothon the sides. (Enlarged.) 



referred to in preceding par- 

 agraphs. Such tests should be made early enough in the season to allow 

 ample time to obtain other samples or to buy additional seed if the testa 



Fig. 10. — Mixture of seeds of orchard grass (a), meadow fescue (b), and English 

 rye-grass (c). The orchard grass seeds are distinguished from the others by 

 their slender, curved form. The meadow fescue and rye-grass seeds are dis- 

 tinguished by the difference in the section of the seed-cluster axis (rachilla 

 "segment) which each bears. (Enlarged.) 



