14 Grain Sceeenings. 



analysis of samples. 



In the spring of 1913 the seed laboratory examined 396 samples 

 of bran, shorts and chop feed, which had been collected throughout 

 Canada by the inspectors of the Department of Inland Revenue. 

 Analysis showed that 140 of these samples contained noxious weed 

 seeds, the average number being 57 per pound. Twenty-four of the 

 samples contained more than 100 noxious weed seeds per pound, and 

 one sample of chop-feed held 1,104 seeds of wild oats, stickseed, catch- 

 fly, and stinkweed per pound. Only 144 samples were free from vital 

 weed seeds of any kind. The following seeds were most common: 



Noxious. — Wild oats in 74 samples; wild mustard, 30 ; hare's-ear 

 mustard, 27; false flax, 25; stinkweed, 24; ball mustard, 23 ; catchfly, 

 21; docks, 8; ragweed, 6; Canada thistle, 5; stickseed, 5; western 

 false flax, 5 ; tumbling mustard, 3. 



Other Weed seeds. — Lamb's quarters, 180; wild buckwheat, 94; 

 green foxtail, 11; lady's thumb, 9; chess, 9; American dragonhead, 

 7; worm-seed mustard, 7. 



POSSIBLE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS OF CERTAIN WEED SEEDS. 



There is another point to be considered in connection with the 

 adulteration of feeding stuffs with weed seeds, whether whole or 

 ground, and that is the possibility of some of the seeds being poisonolis 

 or otherwise deleterious to the health of animals. The seed of worm- 

 seed mustard for example has an exceedingly bitter taste, and hogs 

 cannot be induced to eat chop-feed containing traces of it. See results 

 of feeding black seeds on page 34 in this bulletin. 



The Seed Branch quite frequently receives samples of 

 feeds of various kinds that the senders claim have caused death or 

 serious injury to the health of animals. Analysis of such samples 

 often reveals the presence of weed seeds of various kinds. 



The following is a copy of a letter received during the past 

 winter : — 



"I am sending you a sample of a molasses meal feed for a 

 complete analysis, and kindly report to me at your earliest 

 convenience. 



"A horse I was feeding it to commenced to fail, and 

 died within two weeks in great pain, though otherwise we could 

 locate nothing the matter with him. Another horse scoured 

 violently and so did a cow, so I have stopped feeding it entirely. 

 "It is about time the Government took active measures 

 against all these unscrupulous feed dealers who are charging 

 the farmer outrageous prices for mill feeds composed of quan- 

 tities of weed seeds which are injuring and killing the animals 

 they are fed to. I paid $1.75 a hundred for this feed, and I 

 have been a month up day and night with sick stock, which I 

 believe was caused through nothing else but this feed." 

 The feed referred to contained lamb's quarters, wild buckwheat 

 chickweed, plantain, and fragments of many other weed seeds. ' 



