PERENNIAL FORAGE GRASSES 



adulteration. The most important impurities are noxious weed 

 seeds, their injurious quality being due to the kinds rather 

 than the quantity of seeds present. A great deal of seed placed 

 on the market is of low germinating power. 



16. Sampling Seeds. It is essential to secure an average 

 sample of seed to be tested either for impurities or for 

 germination. If the seed is in a bin, a grain sampler may be 

 used; if in sacks, samples may be taken from various 

 parts of each by means of small seed sampler. When the 

 quantity is small enough, it should be emptied upon a flat 

 surface, thoroughly mixed, and 

 seeds taken from various parts 

 to make up the sample for 

 mixing. For the seeds of forage 

 crops, either of grasses or of 

 legumes, a two-ounce sample is 

 sufficient, except where the 

 seeds are the size of vetches or 

 cowpeas, when a four-ounce 

 sample should be taken. 



In testing grass seed it is es- 

 sential to take small and large 

 seeds in the proportion in which 

 they exist in the whole sample. 

 In some grass seeds there are 

 many empty glumes which it is 



difficult to distinguish from those containing grain. They may 

 be distinguished by wetting the seeds, placing them upon a 

 plate of glass and holding up to the light, when the empty 

 glumes will appear translucent, while those containing seed will 

 be opaque. 



The sample as received for testing may be spread carefully 

 upon a sheet of paper and divided by means of a spatula into 

 sub-divisions until a small enough sample for actual test is 



Seed mixer and sampler 



