378 



Missouri Agricultural Report. 



Other weed seeds commonly found in alfalfa seed include: (Fig. 19) crab-grass 

 (a), witch-gra'ss (b), yellow foxtail (c), green foxtail (d), soft chess (f), sorrel 

 (h), knotweed (i), pale knotweed (j), lady's thumb (k), lamb's quarters (1), 

 wild saltbush (m), rough amaranth (n), spreading amaranth (o), wild spurry 

 (p), chickweeds (q and r), mouse-ear chickweed (s), forked catchfly (t); (fig. 

 20) creeping buttercup (a), peppergrass (b), shepherd's purse (c), cinquefoil 

 (d), hop clover (e), yellow trefoil (f), bird's-foot trefoil (g), wild geraniums 

 (h, i and j), spiny sida (m), evening primrose (n), red pimpernel (o), stick- 

 tight (p), vervain (r) ; (fig. 21) catmint (a), healall (b), rough-leaved toadflax 

 (c), smaller broad-leaved plantain (d), bracted plantain (e), field madder (g), 

 cleavers (h), wild corn salad (i and j), poverty weed (k), dog fennel (m), 

 field camomile (n), scentless camomile (o), cornflower (p), cat's-ear (q), ox- 

 tongue (r), hawkweed picris (s). 



The bulk of the domestic alfalfa seed is produced in the Western States, 

 and many kinds of weed seeds it carries are distinctly different from those ap- 

 pearing in imported seed. The weed seeds (if not associated with kinds dis- 

 tinctly foreign) pointing decisively to domestic production are (Fig. 17) sand 

 bur (a), Russian thistle (h), cow cockle (i), fragments; (fig. 18) tumbling 

 mustard (c), small-seeded alfalfa dodder (h), the form of field dodder (i) hav- 

 ing light-colored seeds, large-seeded alfalfa dodder (j), ragweed (n), gumweed 

 (o), wild sunflower (p) ; (fig. 19) wild saltbush (m), spreading arriaranth (o); 

 (fig. 20) spiny sida (m) ; and (fig. 21) poverty weed (k). 



European origin of alfalfa is indicated by the presence of the following 

 weed seeds: (Fig. 17) white campion (j); (fig. 18) wild carrot (d), clover dod- 

 der (g), wild chicory (t) ; (fig. 19) wild spurry (p), chickweed (q), forked 

 catchfly (t) ; (fig. 20) creeping buttercup (a), bird's-foot trefoil (g), wild 

 geraniums (h, i and j), red pimpernel (o), vervain (r) ; (fig. 21) rough-leaved 

 toadflax (c), field madder (g), wild corn salad (i and j), scentless camomile 

 (o), oxtongue (r), hawkweed picris (s). 



TESTING ORCHARD GRASS SEED. 



M^ 



Orchard grass seed should be carefully mixed before the test sample 

 is taken, because small and relatively heavier impurities are likely to 

 settle to the bottom of the bulk sample. Seed equal to the weight of 

 121A BB shot may be taken for the test sample. 



Orchard grass seed is read- 

 ily identified by the slender, 

 pointed form of the seed in 

 the chaif. The lemma of the 

 seed is angled on the back 

 and is curved to one side to- 

 ward the pointed apex (fig. 

 10, a). The seeds are three- 

 eighths inch to one-half inch 

 long. Some of the seeds bear 

 the sterile chaff of a second 

 seed (middle of fig. 10, a). 



r^-. 



a 



^4,t 



2^ 



- <^ 



(9 

 b 



i# 



Fig. 27. — Seeds of 



showing- variation in 

 natural size of seeds 

 clover. 



sweet clover : a, Seeds 

 form and size; b, 

 »-•, a pod of sweet 



