10 ELEMENTARY AGRICULTURE 
mixed sample of our familiar garden, field, and flower 
seeds and separate them into groups according to species 
or variety. The seed sample may contain other seeds, 
untrue to name, with insect life and foreign matter 
present. Hence, the crop may be planted at a loss and 
with disappointment to the grower. 
Fig. 5.—An early selection of field corn, following most scientific methods 
of securing the best. 
Cheap Seeds that are Expensive.—By obtaining 
samples of seeds from stores or some other commercial 
source, some interesting studies may be made. It will 
be found that many seeds are not what the name upon 
the package implies. Many contain harmful weed seeds. 
Others contain a mixture of unknown seeds. The word 
“adulteration” is applied to these mixtures. Commercial 
brands of seeds should represent the best that can be 
obtained, but unfortunately many kinds are poorer than 
those grown at home. The mere fact that we read a 
