8 WEEDS. 



of coffee and chicory — while the same grocer may 

 with impunity sell, as Ryegrass seed, a most hurtful 

 compound, in which it is quite possible there may be 

 as much as (let us say) 50 per cent, of the seeds of 

 bad grasses and other weeds. Those who buy the 

 adulterated coffee suffer only to a most insignificant 

 extent in comparison with those who buy and sow the 

 adulterated or impure seed. In the latter case, not 

 alone is the purchase money wasted, but the crop is 

 deteriorated, the land poisoned, and much expense 

 incurred in gettuig rid of the weeds thus introduced. 



Many who have heard of the " Seeds Adulteration 

 Act," but who have not read it, may think that it 

 deals fully with the adulteration of seeds, as its name 

 implies ; but the fact is that it is a " Seed Adultera- 

 tion Act" in name only, and would be more properly 

 entitled "The Dyeing and Killing of Seeds Act," 

 as it deals only with the killing and colouring of 

 seeds — a practice never very general, and, iii any case, 

 one not a tenth part so damaging to the farmer, or so 

 hurtful to the commonwealth, as the practice of selling 

 weed-seeds, be they present as natural impurities or 

 introduced as adulterants. (A copy of the Seeds 

 Adulteration Act will be found on page 13.) 



In view of the evil consequences resulting from the 

 sale of impure seeds, there are many who think that, 

 in addition to imposing penalties on the sale of 

 such by Act of Parliament, the sale of seeds — 

 as of drugs — should only be entrusted to the hands 

 of those holding a certificate of qualification. That 

 certain steps, on some such lines as those, will be 

 taken sooner or later, there can be no doubt; but 

 it is very necessary to remark here, that measures of 



