30 HINTS ON RAISING FARM CROPS 
out a nurse crop), a light application of manure 
may be plowed under with beneficial results. 
However, if a grain crop is being seeded at 
the same time, as is commonly practiced when 
clover or alfalfa is being sown, then the man¬ 
ure should be applied previously, as the manure 
applied the same year as the grain crop will 
encourage the grain, or nurse crop, to lodge. 
The selection of the seed is of first im¬ 
portance. Any farmer will testify to the im¬ 
purity of common grass seed sold on the mar¬ 
ket. A farmer usually has enough weeds on 
his land without buying any weed seed mixed 
with his grass seed. Many states demand that 
the purity of the seed be stated on the con¬ 
tainer in which he purchases his seed. This 
is an excellent law, when it is adhered to. 
There are many noxious weed seeds that close¬ 
ly resemble ordinary grass seed, and the farm¬ 
er should see to it that he is not being cheated. 
An ordinary hand lens can be used to advan¬ 
tage to detect these noxious weed seeds, or 
perhaps even a better way for the farmer is 
to send a sample of the seed, if there is any 
question in his mind as to the purity of the 
seed, to his state agricultural college, and have 
them analyze the seed as to its purity. 
Another factor that is too often neglected 
by the busy farmer, is the matter of germina¬ 
tion of the seed. As has been stated before, 
germination of seed means the number that 
will sprout, when placed under favorable con¬ 
ditions. For instance, if 93 seeds out of one 
hundred sprout, then we say that the germina¬ 
tion of that seed is 93 per cent. But many 
