362 COMMON WEEDS 



percentages of impurity may lead to disastrous con- 

 sequences for the farmer who sows the seeds. 



9. An American sample of lucerne seed was found 

 to contain 6.8 per cent of weed seeds, or nearly 32,500 

 per pound, no less than 5490 being Dodder. 1 



10. A question as to the adulteration of seeds was 

 asked in the House of Commons in 1904, and was 

 answered by the President of the Board of Agriculture. 

 " Mr. Spear, having asked what recent cases of adultera- 

 tion or misrepresentation in the sale of farm seeds 

 had been brought to his notice, and whether he had 

 considered the advisability of some amendment in or 

 addition to the law as it now stands for the better 

 protection of agriculturists and honest seed merchants, 

 Mr. Fellowes replies : ' A case in which certain foreign 

 seed was sold as English clover was recently brought 

 under the notice of the Board. Proceedings were 

 instituted under the Merchandise Marks Acts, and the 

 vendor was fined 10, with 6s. Court fees and 21 

 towards the cost of the prosecution. This result goes 

 to confirm the conclusion arrived at by the Depart- 

 mental Committee of 1900, who expressed the opinion 

 that there is no practical difficulty under the existing 

 law in the way of obtaining thoroughly good and 

 reliable seeds by those who know how to set about it ; 

 but we shall be very happy to give full consideration to 

 any representations or suggestions which may be made 

 to us on the subject.' " 2 



The foregoing examples are but a few of hundreds 

 which could be cited to indicate the extent to which 

 farm seeds may be worthless, and the consequent 

 necessity for seed testing. 



1 U.S. Dept. Agric. , Farmers Bulletin, No. 194, 1900, p. 13. 



2 The Times, May 19, 1904. 



