If cut too early, the seed obtained germinates badly, and if too late, many seeds are 
lost. Plants for seed are cut in the same way as those of perennial rye-grass. After 
drying they are allowed to ripen in the barn, Threshing is easy. At the present time 
it is not customary to grow the grass specially for seed; wild plants are used for the pur- 
pose. As a consequence, the supply is hardly equal to the demand and the price has risen, 
Greater attention must now be paid to seed production. On the Swiss Alps where 
dogstail is exceedingly abundant, seed could profitably be collected without injury to the 
pastures, 
TTannemann & Werner estimate that an acre grown for seed yields 180 Ibs. 
This seed is often mixed with that of Yorkshire fog (Holcus lanatus); doubtless this 
addition is intentional. /Zolews seeds are bright, shining, white in colour and rounded at the 
apex, While those of dogstail are acute, awned and provided with short bristly hairs toward 
the apex (fig. 52). Adulteration with capillary sheep’s fescue, Mestuca ovina capillata, 
ai 
Crested dogstail. Capillary sheep’s fescue. Purple melic. 
Cynosurus cristatus, L. Festuca ovina capillata, Molinia caerulea, 
ee ee Hackel. Meench. 
Ry ee ote a ete a. False fruit, natural size. False fruit, side-view. 
b. the same, ventral surface b. The same, side - view z 1s 
Ss 7 8 ’ a, Natural size. 
et ty XX 0: b, and « 8. 
ce. the same, dorsal surface c. Ventral surface < 8. 
< 7 (after Nobbe). d. Dorsal surface << 8. 
Hackel (fig. 53) is more difficult to detect. The seed of this adulterant is usually shorter and 
less acute than that of dogstail; it is almost smooth and has a reddish straw colour. The 
seeds of purple melic, Molinia caerulea, Moench (fig. 54) are sometimes intentionally added. 
They are smooth, less acute, of a reddish straw colour and swollen at the base; the pales 
usually gape at the apex. The swollen base and gaping pales are very characteristic. 
Seed and amounts to be sown. Good seed ought to have at least 90°/o purity and 
60° germination = 54°/o of pure and germinating seed. One Ib. of pure seed contains, 
on an average, 1,127,000 seeds. 
The weight per bushel varies between 20 and 32 lbs., that is, on an average, 26 or 
27 lbs. 25 Ibs. are required per acre; that is 15.5 lbs. of pure and germinating seed. 
16 
Yield. 
Impurities 
and 
Adulterations. 
Seed quality. 
Amount 
to be sown. 
eee 
