74 SCHOOL AND HOME GARDENING 



kind on a sheet of white paper. Weed seeds or any which are not 

 like the true garden variety you have should be placed at one corner 

 of the paper. Lift them with the wet point of a pencil. After 

 separating the seeds which are untrue, count them and determine 

 the percentage of purity (Fig. 48). Another way of looking at 

 seeds is to moisten the first joint of the thumb of the left hand and 

 dip it in the seed sample. The layer of seeds covering the moist 

 surface may be examined with the eyes with or without a lens or 

 reading glass. 



Such practice by students calls attention not only to im- 

 purities, but also to shrivelled seeds, discolored or old seeds, 



Fig. 48. — Garden seeds should be examined for weed seeds. A lens will aid with 



small ones. 



particles of dirt, sajid or other foreign matter often found in 

 samples (Fig. 49). 



13. Studying Weed Seeds. — During the fall season, collections 

 of weed seeds of many kinds should be made at the school. Let 

 each pupil bring to school the heads of weeds containing seeds. These 

 may be placed in folded papers or discarded envelopes, with the 

 name written outside. After the samples have become thoroughly 

 dry, place the seeds in small bottles, as shown in figure 50, or in 

 little boxes. Any weeds which are not known by the pupils or teacher 

 may be identified by the use of United States Farmers' Bulletins 

 No. 260 and No. 382. Samples may also be sent to the agricultural 

 experiment station in any state. 



The exercise will call the attention of pupils for the first 

 time to many noxious weeds, and they may realize for the 

 first time the importance of the farmer's weed problem. 



(1 



