100 



GRASSES OF IOWA. 



^' First. — Of the seventeen samples of orchard grass pur- 

 chased in New York, Boston, and atvarious places in Connecti- 

 cut, one sample contained as much as 98.8 per cent of pure seed, 

 the remainder being chaff. Another contained no orchard 

 grass seed whatever, and consisted mainly of Lolium perenne, 

 or perennial rye-grass. Excluding this sample the other six- 

 teen samples contained on the average 77.4 per cent of pure 

 seed. 



"Second. — Seven out of sixteen samples contained notable 

 quantities, from 8.3 to 35.5 per cent, of seed of perenniil rye- 

 grass, Lolium perenne, which is less valuable and sells at a 

 lower price. 'Tested' orchard grass seed is quoted at 11 cents 

 per pound and 'tested' perennial rye grass at 4.5 cents. A 

 single sample contained 14. 1 per cent of a species of Bromus, 

 probably B. secalinus, or chess. ' ' McCarthy says uncleaned seed 

 often contains one-fifth of its weight in chaff, dirt, and various 

 weed seeds. The most common weeds are dog fennel or May 

 weed, ox-eye daisy, sheep sorrel, and species of knotweed or 

 heartsease {Polygonum). 



TABLE NO. III. 



Phleum pratense. Timothy. — Timothy seed is usually quite 

 clean. It is sometimes adulterated with sand and quartz and 

 generally contains small quantities of dirt, sticks, and chaff, 

 and the seeds of various weeds, clover, and some grasses. 

 Among the common weed seeds are those of plantain, dock, 

 buttercup, May weed, shepherd's purse, pigweed, and mallow. 

 Of the grass seeds, red top, fowl meadow {Poa serotina), and the 

 pigeon grasses or foxtails, are most commonly found. Profes- 

 sor Chester* found seed of Canada thistle in one sample. 



*Ann. Rep. Delaware Exp. station. 1889: 37-«3. (Also Bull. 5). 



