HOME AND SCHOOL EXERCISES 77 



burrs to cling to the coats of animals, as burdock and bidens. (2) 

 Having down or hair to catch in the wind, as dandelion and milk- 

 weed. (3) Having wings to float on the air or water, as true dock. 

 (4) Seeds which are edible and carried by birds, as plantain. Some 

 of the weeds may appear in two lists and other classifioations may 

 also be made. 



In connection with this exercise, the methods practiced 

 by gardeners and farmers may be discussed. Weed seeds car- 

 ried by animals find their way into their bedding and manure 

 about the barnyard. These are spread upon the fields. Weeds 

 growing abundantly in hay are likewise taken from the barn- 

 yard to other fields. 



Gardeners often rot their barnyard manure for the purpose 

 of killing weed seeds in it. This helps to keep their gardens 

 free from weeds. Compost heaps are made by carefully alter- 

 nating layers of manure and sod to prevent loss of plant-food 

 during the rotting process. 



15. Getting Pure Grass Seeds. — ^Add a few drops of mucilage 

 to a little water. Use this to wet a piece of clean window glass. 

 Sprinkle over it a thin layer of bluegrass seed such as you may wish 

 to use on the school or home lawn. Hold the glass up to a bright 

 light and examine the number of empty husks or glumes. 



Several samples of grass seed from different dealers should 

 be examined, as bluegrass and other chaffy grass seeds vary 

 greatly in their value. Such seeds should always be examined 

 in this or some other suitable way before purchasing. The 

 weight per quart of seed gives a partial guide to its value. 

 The heavy seed should always be preferred. 



16. Oil in Seeds. — Get seeds from castor-oil plant, cotton plant, 

 flax, buckwheat, soybeans, peanuts and other nuts. Examine these 

 for the oil which they contain. Mashing some against writing 

 paper will give it a greasy appearance. If convenient, get at a drug 

 store a little alcatiin (henna root in alcohol). Cut thin sections 

 of the seeds and lay them on a piece of glass. Then apply a drop of 

 the alcanin. It will stain the oil red and prove its . presence. This 

 is the standard test for fats and oils. Many seeds have enough oil 

 so that it can be detected by rubbing between the fingers. 



