444 ALFALFA FARMING IN AMERICA. 



Cost of High-Grade and Low-Grade Seed. It is usually safe to 

 assume that the highest grade and consequently the highest- 

 priced seed offered by any one firm is the cheapest to buy. In 

 the high grades of alfalfa the seed that will grow costs less per 

 pound than that in the low grades. When samples from different 

 firms are to be compared a careful estimate of the quality of each 

 should be made and the best quality selected. A good grade of 

 alfalfa should contain not over 2 per cent of impurities, and 

 from 90 to 95 per cent of the seed should grow. 



Home Testing. It is difficult for one who is not accustomed to 

 handling alfalfa seed to determine accurately its percentage of 

 purity, especially the amount of dodder and other weed seeds 

 present, but a general estimate of the quality of unadulterated 

 seed can be formed on a basis of color. The percentage of seed 

 that will grow can easily be determined by means of a simple 

 tester. 



Mix the seed thoroughly and count out 100 or 200 seeds just as 

 they come, making no selection. Put them between a fold of cot- 

 ton flannel or some similar cloth, taking care not to let the seeds 

 touch one another. Lay the cloth on a plate, moisten it well, 

 but do not saturate it, cover with another plate and keep at a 

 temperature of about 70 F. Every day count and take out the 

 sprouted seeds. In from four to six days all of the good seeds 

 will have sprouted, and the percentage of seed that will grow 

 is known. 



Free Tests. The seed laboratory of the United States Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture is prepared without charge to make tests 

 of alfalfa seed and of other seeds, both for germination and 

 for mechanical purity. The test for mechanical purity consists 

 in determining the percentage of pure seed and of weed seeds, 

 including dodder. All samples sent for testing should be addressed 

 to the Seed Laboratory, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Wash- 

 ington, D. C., and should be accompanied as far as possible by 

 the following information : Name and address of seller, year and 

 place of growth, price paid, and name and address of sender. 



Summary. The average quality of alfalfa seed on the market 

 is frequently low. 



A considerable quantity of adulterated and dead seed is being 

 offered for sale. 



Do not buy alfalfa seed that is adulterated or that is brown in 

 color. 



Do not buy alfalfa seed containing the seeds of dodder. 



Get samples and test them, or have them tested, in all cases 

 before buying. 



