364 THE NEW AGRICULTURE. 



indeed throughout the entire semi-arid belt from Texas to the 

 Canadian border is enough to force the conviction upon us 

 that if the whole national domain should suddenly become a 

 semi-arid plain, our botanists would simply supply us with the 

 variety of vegetation suited to our changed condition and the 

 country would serenely continue at the head of the column 

 for agricultural production. 



As the chemists protect the farmer from imposition in the 

 purchase of his fertilizer, so the botanists protect him in the 

 purchase of his seeds. They go into the open market and 

 buy, and they inspect samples sent to them from all over the 

 country/ They have examined samples of seed sent out as 

 "extra cleaned Kentucky blue grass," and found that it con- 

 tained only 26 per cent, of blue grass seed ; and of Rhode 

 Island bent grass which contained but 2 per cent, of bent 

 grass seed. They have found upon the market timothy, 29 

 per cent, of which was the seed of weeds ; and clover seed, 36 

 per cent, of which was the seed of weeds. So persistent and 

 thorough has this work of inspection been that to-day there 

 is but little danger of imposition if the purchaser will confine 

 his dealings to reputable firms. 



Some years ago the Russian thistle attained notice because 

 of the widespread damage which it was causing in the North- 

 west. In one season and in one locality it destroyed wheat to 

 the value of $3,000,000. A botanist was sent to the region 

 and he at once proceeded to work out the life history of the 

 plant. It was found that by cutting the weed at a certain 

 season August ist to the 2Oth the formation of its seeds 

 would be prevented, the march of its propagation halted, and 

 its ravages stayed. The losses from the Russian thistle which 

 but a year before had inspired consternation, were at once re- 



