128 



ELEMENTS OF FARM PRACTICE 



likely to spring up and make a good growth. If such a grass 

 crop is cut for seed, the weed seeds are Hkely to be mixed 



with the grass seed. 



Hay a Cleaning Crop. — If 

 a grass crop is cut for hay, 

 the weeds growing in it are, 

 as a rule, cut before they have 

 had time to ripen seeds. For 

 this reason the hay crop is 

 regarded as a cleaning crop. 

 Hay with weeds in it is 

 very inferior in quality, and 

 every effort should be made 

 to get such a good stand of 



Figure 55— Seeds of (1) quack grass g^aSS aS tO prevent WCeds 



single; (2) quack grass with two or from grOWmg; with it. The 



more seeds as they grew. They were n j 7^ ' ji- i 



not separated when shelled. They tirst Step m gcttmg a gOOd 



gmsa. ^^^^^^ ^''^^^^^'- ^^^ ^^^^^'^ stand of grass is to sow good 



clean seed that will grow. If 

 the grass seed we sow contains weed seeds, we not only 

 sow the undesirable weed seeds, but also sow less grass 

 seed, hence get a poorer stand. 



Description. — Below is given a brief description of four 

 kinds of weed seeds most common in grass seed: 



Pigeon grass seed is about one fourth as large as a grain 

 of wheat. It varies in color from nearly light yellow to 

 light green, and has one flat surface. In shape it is similar 



to half a bean. It is 

 common in grain and in 

 grass seed. 



Mustard seeds are 

 smaller than a pinhead, 

 almost perfectly round, 

 and dark brown to nearly 

 black in color. They 

 resemble rutabaga seeds 

 and are easily identified 

 by tasting, as they have 

 a sharp, spicy taste. Mustard seed is common both in grain 

 and in grass seed. See Figure 56. 



Figure 56. — Seeds of (1) pigweed; (2) wild 

 mustard, enlarged. 



