FEEDING STUFF INSPECTION. 189 



placed upon the goods is only a very general guide to the actual 

 composition. 



Weed Seeds in Feeding Stuffs. 



In connection with the regular inspection of feeding stuffs 

 during the season of 1907-08 it was thought best to make an 

 investigation of the noxious weed seeds which are found in some 

 of these feeds. Attention was drawn to this matter by the 

 recent introduction into Maine of several feeds which are heavily 

 loaded with weed seeds and which seem to find ready sale in 

 many sections. 



One or more samples were selected as representative of each 

 of the various feeding stuffs which seemed at all likely to con- 

 tain weed seeds either because of accident, imperfect separation, 

 or intentional addition. These included brans, brewers and dis- 

 tillers grains, mixed feeds, chop feeds, stock and dairy feeds, flax 

 feeds, malt sprouts, middlings, molasses feeds, scratch feeds, 

 union grains, etc. Oil meals, gluten feeds, and similar feeds 

 were not examined for weed seeds. Each sample selected was 

 carefully examined by the seed analyst and an estimate made of 

 the amount of weed seeds present. The principal kinds were 

 identified and noted. These weed seeds are designated by the 

 common name used in this section. In order to identify them 

 conclusively they may be referred to the list given on pages 54 

 and 55 in bulletin 152 of this Station. The results of this exam- 

 ination are given in the table which begins on page 190. 



VIABEE WEFD SEEDS. 

 Those feeds which contained the largest amounts of weed 

 seeds were tested for germination in order to determine 

 whether or not the seeds present would grow under favorable 

 conditions. A germinator of the Geneva type was used and 

 5 gram charges of each feed were taken for the test. At the 

 end of 5 days the samples were covered thickly with mold and 

 it seemed improbable that any more seeds would ger^mate so 

 the tests were stopped at the end of this period. The results 

 of this 5 day germination test are given in the table which 

 begins on page 196. 



