SEED AND SEED SELECTION 4 1 



of Sweet clover (p. 26) are rounder and plumper than 

 those of alfalfa, and have a very pronounced groove be- 

 tween the main body of the seed and the ridge which 

 marks the location of the rootlet of the young plant with- 

 in. It is this ridge that in alfalfa seeds runs off, as a rule, 

 in a marked slant, but which in both trefoil and Sweet 

 clover, especially in the latter, forms a well-rounded curve 

 to the tip of the seed. No pointed or kidney-shaped seeds 

 are ever seen in Sweet clover. (See illus. opp. p. 26.) 



A COMMON VVSED IN IMPORTED AliFALFA SEED 



"It remains to mention the most common weed found 

 in imported alfalfa seed — the English or Ribbed plan- 

 tain, or, as it is more generally called in the West, Buck- 

 horn or Rib grass. It is a difficult weed to eradicate, 

 lots of seed containing any noticeable percentage of it 

 should be rejected. (See illus. opp. p. 13.) 



"The farmer is often to blame for the poor seed of 

 which he makes complaint. Prime alfalfa seed is expen- 

 sive, and a cheap grade will inevitably be poor in quality, 

 containing much dead seed, rubbish, and the seeds of 

 many kinds of weeds. Where 'cheap' alfalfa seed is 

 demanded it will always be sold, and buyers need not be 

 surprised by its quality. On the other hand, there is no 

 excuse or palliation for the offense of selling, under the 

 name and at the price of standard alfalfa seed, seed of 

 substituted species. It is the duty of seed dealers to ascer- 

 tain beforehand the character and genuineness of seed 

 that they sell under any given name, and this applies to 

 the retailers as well as to the wholesale dealers. On the 



