PLANT IMPROVEMENT, GOOD SEED 25 



seeds before buying them, and avoid spending money for 

 weed seeds to sow on the farm. At least let us look at the 

 seed before sowing it. (Fig. 11.) 



Exercise. — Looking for Weed Seed. — Let each pupil 

 have a half teaspoonful of clover or other common farm 

 seeds. Spread them on a sheet of white paper. Let the seed 

 be examined without the aid of lenses first. The weeds that 

 are known should be put to one corner of the paper which 

 is labeled "known weeds." la another place put the un- 



Fro. 11. — Seeds mounted in holes in heavy pasteboard between two pieces of 



flass held with paE>er binding. A tripodlens used for seed study. (Agricultural 

 Education.) 



known weeds; and in another the dirt, grit, sticks, and other 

 dead matter; in another the shriveled seed of the kind you 

 have present. Single seeds may be moved by use of a moist 

 pencil point or similar object. When the study is completed, 

 count or estimate the lots of each kind to determine the per 

 cent of each. 



Exercise. — Another Way of Looking at Seeds. — Moisten 

 the first joint of the thumb of the left hand and dip it into 

 the seed to be studied. One layer of seed will cover the 

 moist surface. With a lens or reading glass in the right hand 

 the seed may be carefully examined for impurities. (Figs. 

 12a and b.) 



