SEPARATING BUCKHORN FROM CLOVEB \M> \ll\U\ SEEDS. 7 
of one of the common types of seed separators, or even by hand sieves. 
This proved to be the case with the exception of a very small per 
centage "f nonmucilaginous bnckhorn seeds (fig. 3, • I. 
/ * r ' 
a *~ I % \ few 
G 
Fig. .';. — Alfalfa seeds (a) ; normal buckhorn s.nis 1 1, i : Immature or abnormal buckhorn 
eeds (c). i Enlarged three diameters, i 
The methods worked oul on this principle arc inexpensive, expe- 
ditious, and may be carried nut with the machines already in common 
use, or even with hand sieves, ami the materials needed arc likely to 
be accessible t<> every farmer ami seedsman. 
THE DRY SAWDUST METHOD OF SEPARATION. 
The alfalfa or red clover seeds infested with buckhorn are covered 
with water of about room temperature ami well stirred in order to 
uei all the seeds thoroughly. The seeds are allowed to stand in the 
water for five minutes it' the latter i- 65 \\ or over and for eight 
minutes it' below thai temperature. The water i- then drained oil 
thoroughly. This may he done with any common -trainer or sieve 
of about 22 meshes to the inch. The moisl seeds are then scattered 
into dry sawdust and thoroughly mixed until tin' seeds fall apart 
freely and no -mall seed masses remain. This mixing may he done 
with the hand-, with a rake on the barn floor, or with any suitable 
apparatus. It may he accomplished in two or three minute-, when 
it will lie found that the sawdust ha- absorbed the free surface 
moisture from the alfalfa seeds, ami that all the mucilaginous buck- 
horn seeds have become coated with the sawdust t fig. t). 
The proportion of dry seeds to sawdust should be as follows: Seed-. 
one part : sawdust, four or five parts, preferably five parts if resinous 
-aw dust 1"' used. 
[Clrc. 2] 
