SEED AND SEED SELECTION 4 1 



marked slant, but which in both trefoil and Sweet clover, 

 especially in the latter, forms a well-rounded curve to the 

 tip of the seed. No pointed or kidney-shaped seeds are 

 ever seen in Sweet clover. 



A COMMON WEED IN EXPORTED AliPiWDFA SEED. 



*lt remains to mention the most common weed found 

 in imported alfalfa seed — ^the English or Ribbed plant- 

 ain, or, as it is more generally called in the West, Buck- 

 horn or Rib grass. This is a difficult weed to eradicate, 

 and the presence of its seed should be watched for, and 

 lots containing any noticeable percentage of it should be 

 rejected. 



"The farmer is often to blame for the poor seed of 

 which he makes complaint. Prime alfalfa seed is expen- 

 sive, and a cheap grade will inevitably be poor in quality, 

 containing much dead seed, rubbish, and the seeds of 

 many kinds of weeds. Where 'cheap' alfalfa seed is 

 demanded it will always be sold, and buyers need not be 

 surprised by its quality. On the other hand, there is no 

 excuse or palliation for the offense of selling, under the 

 name and at the price of standard alfalfa seed, seed of 

 substituted species. It is the duty of seed dealers to ascer- 

 tain beforehand the character and genuineness of seed 

 that they sell under any given name, and this applies to 

 the retailers as well as to the wholesale dealers. On tlie 

 other hand, farmers cannot expect to obtain the best seed 

 unless they are willing to pay the price it brings." 



DODDER SEED. 



The seeds of dodder are somewhat smaller than alfalfa 

 seeds, but are not separated from them except by careful 



