| | mM | | | || I \\\| | \ HN B= ||| is boy a IMPURITIES LN CLOVER SEED BY H. W. Lawson. '96 OR dae a a Trieelg “3 oo -— ~—ee e wow ee eee THESIS IMPURITIES IN CLOVER SERD. By H. W. LAWSON, ‘95. ON eene ZHeEs.& Impurities in Clover Seed. -~------ o00------ In keeping with the general auvancement in farming, the subject of purity, cleanliness, and vitality of seeds is an im- portant one, and deserves far more at*ention *han has heen given ‘it. The farmer who must prepare his ground for a crop and he to the exrense of buying seeds, can neither afford to pay for weed seeds, nor to sow them on the ground most, favorable to their ‘extension. That such is often the case, it needs but superficial ‘investigation to show. Of all the seeds offered in tho market, clover serd, prob- ably, contains more impurities than any other. I. material such as powdered quar'z has been added to good seed by the dealer, as was found by the Ontario Agricultural College (Bulletin 98) to be the case in some instances, its presence in clover sced would be less easily detected than foreign material in most other seeds. But leaving aside the subject of adulteration, ¢J¥ clover seca, for several reasons, 1s apt to contain impurities, even when raisei and marketed by the most careful and honest. producers. Fow clover fields car be kept entirely free from weeds, the seeds of which ripening at the same time as clover are necessarily harvested with it, and as the seeds of many of the common weeds, such as sorrel and pigeon grass, have nearly the same size and wei:ht as clover send, removing, them from tho clover seed is y#rendered practically impossible, at least by the means ordinarily flound on farms. In the examination of fifty-uwo samples of clover seed my iobject has been to devermine whe parity and cleanliness of the Seed. 'ndex che first considesauion, the amount of for- eign seeds present, has been carefully estimated, and the different sp-cies have been identified as far as_ possible; under the second, the amount of dirt, including stems, chait, sand and other matevial nas been found. The vitali- by, thouzsh usually considered to be of even the | 102146 | -2- highest importance in seed testing, has not, besn determined with each sample since rearly all the samples were from the crop of (1894 and in good cordition. Germination tests off various sam- ples, with the recognized fact that clover seed possesses great ivitality, led to the conclusion, that in this respect all couldb ‘be considered as good s:ed. All the samples with the oxceptiong ‘of numbers 34, 36, 37, and 38 in the following tables, were ob- ‘tained directly from the farmers i» this state. The seed was ‘secured from this source so as to determine its condition as it WES first offered for sale, rather than after it had passed ‘through the hands of seedsmen or other dealers, after which any examination must bear in mind the greater liability of the seed being adulterated or its condition being improveu by sup- erior msthous of cleaning. . he samples of clover secidi that have been examined with references to the impurities contained in them, wer? received ‘from the following sources: ‘1. oc. J. Allen, Holly, Oakland County. Fred Reice, Petoskey, Emmet County. Myron Powell, Monterey, Ablegan County. Myron Powell, Monterey, Allegan County. Kli Benjamin, Flushing, Genese= County. “Wilbur Southwick, Sherman, W xford County. J.C. Morse, Carson City, Montcalm County. oo ww — & 20 CO ~I oiecn eo @ B. Babcock, Tonia, Ionia County. S.D. Pecl:, Greenville, Montcalm County. Kdgar J. Finch, Albion, Calhoun County. John Enzland, Burnip's Corners, Allezan County. le. S.R.Crittenden, Saline, Washtenaw County. 18. Chas. Warden, Conway, Livingston County. ‘14. Edward Stanton, Sherwood, Branch County. '15. George Baad, Sherwood, Branch County. 16. Gerrit Masselink, Oakland, Allegan County. ‘17, J.B.Witherell, Churcn, Hillsdale County. — © e e | | 1 | 5 l ‘ 18, 1g. 20. al. | | 28.6 O26 P4. QO O66 ole 28. 49. HO. Ol. -3- Fred Slagel, Salem Tp., Allesan County. M. Werington, Vieksburz, Kalamazoo County. F, Schmeckerberser, Charlotte, Eaton County. Frank Warren, Marlette, Sanilac County. Alfred Mowman, Caledonia, Kent County. B. J. Borden, Palo, JIonia Courty. W.H Wallace, Garnenter, Lapeer. County. Joe Milway, Atlanta, Montmorency County. Levi Davis, Washin--ton, Macomb County. D. Mitchell, Holiy, Oakland County. Clark Miller, Washington, Macomb County. D.V.Lambert., Columbiaville, Lapeer County. Wm. Rrady, Unionville, Tuscola County. H.E.Ward, Ada, Kent, County. Henry Mason, Swartz Creck, Genesgec County. A.H.Whitehead, Lansirg, Ingham County. Dr. W.J.Beal from seed offered for sale at Laingsbur-. F. Shipp, Lansing, Ingham County. (Screenings). Vaughan, Seedsman, Chicago. Landreth, Secdsman, Philadelphia. (Mammoth Cdover) Landreth, Seedsman, Philadelphia.(June clover). George Swartz, Tecumseh, Lenawe? County. C.J.Allen, Holly, Oakland County. 5. Hayes, Muir, Ionia County. . L.M.Olmstead, Muir, [Ionia County. B. Babcock, Ionia, Ionia County. Jas. Hayden, Muir, Ionia County. D.C.Kingsley, Summit City, Grand Traverse County. M. Lackwood, Highland, Oakland County. ~Crittenden, Saline, Washtenaw County. Chas. S. Worden, Conway, Livingston County. F. Schneckerberze , Charlotte, “ator County. A. Macomber, Brishton, Livin.ston County. Join Morrish, Flushing, Genesre County. 62. D.V. Lambert, Columbiaville, Lapeer County. | -4- fhe ea-companyin?s inap illustrates t ° v: rious localit.ies from which the samples h ve been secured. From the places nunm- bered 890 to 52 inclusive alsike clover seni was obtaire sc from all others cither tn? June of tlic Mammoth. i SS WO, P 125~ — 14S" x6 } L_ ¥30 | | : x2/ | x | f x¥ x5/ 2 Y y3/ * rT +24 Be ad _ x23 140 5 33 G Vt a 357 rag 150 17 ray ey 10 #6 Af Vy ; 7 : “7 : /9 xy /0 ¥ It | ig | IS ¥/7 ¥ 39 Tho following able (Table I) shows tho per cent. of pure clover seoa contained in to samples, tno per cent. of timothy ‘sea, the total per cent. of weed sueds, and t e per cent. of ‘dirt. fheebers 1 to 88 irclusive are red clovers; numbers 3) 10 Of, Slsike. Jusoors ¢ ena 4/7 vere taken div etly from tn: clover r rhovsn opento serdous objeetions as will be men. oned larer the per conts were determined wy weignt. In examining the red clovor, a simple of four grams of the seed wes taken, with the ‘alsike, two reams. “o rotice vas taken of the few alsike seeds ‘found in thered, nor of whics v2 .°:d found in the alakae, as Uh amuunus we.es smill and cuuld nov ,-acuscally be ¢ noidv.ed as impurities. Table I. Thuaber Glover Timothy Wee. send Dirt, Stems,ete 1 99.10 02 18 70 2 99.80 18 O02 O 94.24 02 9.04 40 L 99.80 . 20S 21d { 7240 20-60 of) 1.50 GF 76.00 3.80 20 20.00 7 | 94.00 14 40 2.46 8 99.00 ° 02 098 9 99.50 ~ O4 02 14 10 78.20 12,00 5.88 3.92 ll 95.90 ot 12 244 12 99.38 el2 12 638 13 99.50 03 22 020 14 99.95 None QD 15 09.35 ~ 10 None. 02 16 38.00 020 oT 48 19 99.83 ~ 022 10 13 90 288 O09 03 Table I continued. Number Glover Timothy weed sed Dirt,sStems,cte "20 99.63 £02 35 19 99.78 .03 05 2.17 21 98.75 7D £38 12 22 99.12 13 25 £50 23 98.25 £20 wll 1.42 | 24 90.78 .03 2 £20 28 98,50 128 85 1.40 ts 93.35 .03 75 2.85 27 97.88 £30 £20 1.62 28 98.63 17 1.20 | 29 90. 3.75 05 6.20 30 98.10 None 1.90 31 94.75 50 1.10 3.65 82 89. 7. 1.00 3. 33 92.25 4.75 60 2.40 Jt F oo 39 . 40 41 42 43 du 46 | 47 45 AQ 50 vl 02 98.80 92. 93.30 98.60 07 50 99.60 97.60 98. 81.20 96.50 99.40 99.20 98 40 J] 1.00 0 020 1.90 1.50 20 one v0 . 60 17.60 1.20 .30 .80 L.00 7.00 None 4.90) 020 40 030 10 1.90 1.20 1.20 80 10 020 - 60 1.00 -7- iy Inspection of th: table above will show that of the 338 sam- ples of red clover seed only theee were entirely free from weed seeds, while the amounts ranged from .02 to 5.88 per cent. The average per cent. of pure clover seed is 95.55%, with 1.85 of timothy, 6% weed seeds, and 2% dirt. Sample nunber 34 was ob- tained by Dr. Beal in the market. at Laingsburg and contains 75.20% clover, .10% timothy and 1.60 % dirt besides the exceed- ingly large amount of vecd seeu given on Table II. Sample Number 35 vas a specimen of screenings such as many farmers sow in order to be"saving! Clover sced equals 41%, tim- othy, 4%, dirt 54.65%, WHWK Li88% OF/ timothy and tie sroat variety of eed seeds given in ‘able II. It woulu take only a fow samples like ‘his to convince almost anyone that such stuff should never be sown. Numbers 36, 37 and 38 wore from secdsmen and showed an averaze of 99.14% clover, .1%6% timothy, and .46% dirt, besides an average of 22fwend seeds. iven irom such rola fable firms, we must not too confid ntly expect pure seads. Of the fourveen samples of alsike clover send only one was fren fr from ‘verd seed, ‘vyhile the amount an ore case was as high as 17, 60% ard the averace 2.29%. However, 1f we leave out sample 47 which was nou rreparad for uhe market vhe average of vuht chir- teen samples would be 1.19%. The purc clover seed of the 14 samples equals 96.18%, timothy send, G28 and dirt .91% These results though not on a scale,to be envirely satis- facvory, would indicate that alsike clover contains a #reater amount of weed seed than the red clover but less timothy and ‘less dirt, making the per cent. of the purity of the alsike ‘sreater than that of the red. The following table gives the diffe_ent species of weeds, aniby weicht approximately the per cent. of each found in the ‘clover seed. | | i | | | | j -_-, fr , | ‘OO 4 i 1 ree 1 1 1 4 { { t { 1* ~~ 1° ! t tO 1 t I { { I j 1d 4 i ' { : jr = | { SH 3 eo am ewe we ww! ee we aw ee eRe ee ee owe SSeS Te IT, 2 Table L 1.6 eo oe oD ow et ot aoe ee Oe ew we ewe eee ew TOU eee ee ee eee eee eee eel eee eee eS 7 we eh oe ee leew leew UCD eee eee eee ee ee ee _. —_ wane n= ----- ‘Rumex acetosoillg Sorrel ' Name ( d : = 1 )| me em io merryerr reer nr es =-—lUChnrlmlmlCOlmlC OCW rerrre Ce eee ee, ee ee ee) ( - ~-yrerenr 3 ( 1 ' ' ' 1 t ' ! i ! t { ' t j ! 1 I ! ! 1 ! ! ' ! ' i 1 1 { 1 ’ ' 1 i- i eo @ { ] - ery"? 7 ef ©& -° j@7 °- @} i 1 1 - | 1 j i ' } \ ! SO j t 1 ! 1 ! 1 t 1 ! I i \ © t i 1 i 1 ' t ! 1 t ' i 1 e ! 1 ! i 1 { ’ 1 1 1 ! 1 ! i { 1 t ! ' } 1 - Ic - oe = o- {~ { (* a @ (= = @ i= t oa i {>= eo @e = o~ q = j ! ! ' 1 i 1 1 ' - ! 1 ! l t I ! t { t S 1 ! ! i 1 1 i 1 1 t { 1 1 e { t , t ' t I } ! 1 1 += 43 ! i ! 4 ' i \ { 1 ! 1 = 1 Nt ! ' ' 4 ! 1 { { t ! 1 1 Os ! 1 1 \ { ’ ! 1 t t 1 ! \ e ! @ | 1 t ! ' ' j { ! 1 1 1 { ! ! ! 1 | { ' ! i i. ! 1 1 ! ! r UU) \ J ! ! ! i 1 i i t t ' ! ! ! 1 © l { i ! 1 1 1 } ' i ! \ ! 1 t { e t i ! : ! 1 ! t i t 1 ! ! t ! { ! 1* 1 - 43 1° 1 - 3 1 1 ' { oer fr er ere ewe ere er K- oeeyrw ee re - ee opr ee ere |e ere eoyw@o2eee}7e ere er er re wr ee eer eye ewer en mer eer eer | .> ! I 1 } j ' ! ! j ! ! i ! ! 1 { ! ! 1 © ’ t N \ i ' 1 t 1 } ! ' t i { ° ! 1 & t { ! t ' ! ' ! ' 1 t \ { e 1 ! 1 1 ’ 1 t ! \ on & -\° - @ ~- 1° a @& “1° au @ -(° oe -\> oa @ -;\* ao @ @ -;° a - 1° oo @ ~)}* ao oe -\> = @& -\° a @& i> ea @& -(° = @& -\° oo @ -\° ea @& ~~, ! j ’ t ' ! j t t ’ ’ 1 ' \ ' i I ; r Mm +1 OO 1 i 1 ' 1 ! ' ‘ t i { ' ! e 1; Rid ii t . ! { t i t 1 ' t - f \ e 1 e ! i 1 ! 1 t 1 { ! 1 i 4 own @& -1°> = a -;(° a = eye a @ -(° oa @ = 1° a oe - jie oa a @& ~ \= oa -;° a oe - \|° a @ -\° a a& ~- 1° oo @& - \o* oe wo -\eo oe oa -\° a @ -\;e° a @ -\ \ ! ' 1 i : ' t \ I : ! { i ' ' ON ! of 1 ON ! ! ' i ! t 1 i { ! 1 ! 1 \ CS 1 1 © 4 ! 1 1 ' t 1 1 ! I ' ' ' °e t - +f e 1 j 1 ! t ! ! t 1 1 ! i oa @& -\(> - @ -\° ao @ -\° =~ @ -\° oo & -\° - = -\° eo & & - \° - of, ae -;° oo @& - 3o > w= oe a @ -1° - a -;° eo @ oo ote ae -\° ou @& ~ 1 1 \ ' j ! ! t ' f I i ! tro ! ' \ { 1 ! ' 1 ' t ! ! ! t ! 14 ! ! \ ! 1 ! t t ' t ! j t 1 ’ | 1 t } 1 ! 1 1 ' t ! ! 1 t ! 1S j ' = oi? 1 t ! i = \> ~; 1 ! ht 1 { 1 © ! ' [ ct | { ! ! Ol { ! ! { @ ) ! t t+ 1 i ' S| 1” 1 ! + | { 1 ' 1 41 1 ! Iw e | ma Oi ( n” t ' CS ' ! 1 1 ‘a4 5! ' @io cc} “4 | ! qt 1 & 1 ! me | ! 1 ' ct Qu1 { 1 a! 2. 4 i” way % » he 1) I 1 “O1 “ir wo! ~~ ! O 1 Q 1 10 p20 O11 orn 1 wt S1ag er: $1 4 @ 1 { 1 ot} c3 3 c.f rt rn a GS oss @ 1 1Q %& 4 1 Tw O 1 qo 4 MD 1 TI > I wl ow Or cm miiert Gi! a4 1 E; coy m 3414 ort 1 on Tan 1 QQ @ | CO 1 >: t t maaih, ert pd, r@ im s“ @©:5 GQirm W1O ys crt co mo t: ct 1 f Sas 5! sx~ &) Qu 910 G , O Cat 1 WB mr, Q erty = 8 ain SS st ow! NIT { + ! ecI1F o1d ae. O weit F186 O916)0 2 1 : 1% @ ' 1w 20d 41 D 5! “4 1 0:14 O10 O1% © 3 Ta "Fe => 1 &O port r& OO: O1'1@8 DH tt Mt wrt 1 @ ; OIG orn '— SS i-A I Ore 1 C1 SCA HH. GO tp, SB Metre Hie = Sid O':@ rae Eres 1a wo 4.. = © O77 4 cet s var DO oy h& cit gs, OM Pie GifdO 1 O:10 f4:@Q0 GBiert Bti Dilet of. O €i OD HOO iG Siwy 41D 1 GB.4+2 NIM AITO O DP OAOIOD Cie eit se ot+r Fi st Aa Girt Peic @8.@o wWw:& my 1 | Sie te O1O rin O:% Hi FS Srt Bit Mig oOo +H or oa Fy as FOP oO HP srg & 12 15 8 DB Strt O1M D'EG 4189 ® mem hLiG Hriaoetia oo e Oo Dims Otriy~ODs GY Ota miA H1D © @M HIG -1 ar6& Ofna Git Sta wGiert wrtiri wit Pa fo i+t At mcd Min, Aim Ff: Rm AL MR DPD Mim Fm Am Om SHicd Wis: nil 4 va | | | { 1 ! te | 1 1 | | | | | { : | if Ch Ambr odium album la artemism@e gagemeerw wes — @ ow 7 www eae ee es | a of a aw a 8 ew oe ee 88 ow Se a we a ew 88 ew we ew ee ow oe of ow aw a 6ow 68 ow of om ow oe ew = oe oe eo ee ae ee ow ow ow le oe a a na ae = = ~9- Table II. Continued. -10- Tabie Il. Continued. am we ew a ow ot ae oe iam = ow a om ew oe ww oe OF ww oe @® OF ow oe oe Dw ee ee ee ee ew ee wee eee eee ee eee eee eee eee eee eee eee - Name (27 ' 38 ' 29 * 30 } 31 | 82 | 33 | 34 | 35) Rumex acetosgella ' ' '.05° '.20 '.10 '.50 '.10' ! Rimex crispus ' ‘' ' ¢' $15 '.60'.10$ ',10! Polygonum persicatig ‘' ‘' ‘' ' 10% fF 8 8 Panicym capillane ' ' + ' 05% ft flog: ‘Setaria viridis‘ ‘'.17', * ‘25° ' ' ¥1Q5% Plantago major & Fugelii’ $$ FP 8 Plantazo lanceolata’ ' ' * ' ' #8 — '93,qgt 3 \Chenopodius albun 7° NO Panicum Crusgalli* 9) 4) 20) SPB Av artemisiaefolia |.20 2} Pt UP Unicts lancedlatus”, ~ |, , ; 0° : ! : Anatantus Fetrofiexjs 7 oe Lepidium intermeding V7 YN Noe Potentilla Norvegicd) ts kB Bromis secalims ; ; ; syd Panicum sanguinali ; | oy sts 8! ‘Table II. Continued. - ' 36 ' 37' 38 ' 39 ' 40' 41 ' 42 ' 43! 44' Rumex acetoselia 088 8 PbO BO eat ao Rumex crispus 108 11d? Mag NaOH Poigganin persicerid "7,38", fe yep Setaria viridis ,005 j.12 | tenet yo Chenopodium albun '.02) $f ft Rr UUW Toes Tears Lepidium intermediup ' ' ‘8 tgg ts -1]- Table II. Continued. ea eawearwreenrmeme 2. @ we awe ee ww we ew eee Bae BH ewre- eer FF BP oF Se ase wea qe ae e@We aewee fBaees @&@ Fe BS eer we SS swe a aP ow = o- nmDeaenewempeme ew ee eeeaneeeeeenepene @efer wweaeeewe fF F a BP epee ge aeseeeaeeeereeeeeztqGe@es+ wswew@eeeeee@@eqgn@ eg & ce a @ «em 5 45 146} 47 | 48} 49 | 50} 51) 2) | Rumex acetosella '.40 *.50':"17.0'1-00'.20 ',30 '.20 '7.00°, | Rumex crispus : - 60 . ! . pape wr eawren Were e=2 Gee were eww eee ees @ew eee wees See 8 BP eweweeeeewee ws Se e- FF Wear es Sr @ FS S&S | SF a SG a= aD eagpneaecr @ eee & & 2 @ @& a a De® & ow oF OPO ww Oo O&O HS HT ew Se | eww SF Ss ww © KF SF Se TF ST] Pe ST Se SS OT | @ © ew wee Fe aw Ss oe SS as = ‘| a = a —-— 2 oF ee © = & GH Ge & ~~anrere Ge, BS Per reewwe ae @ BP ewe weeeGeoewe@eqeqweweg@ewePe@@ewerenge@@&, = @e & @& @& @ a =a=a=awew wes @ ape @gFqee, egeaeneeeeag@eeee@ @&w Fee Ses se egw @eeew@geeeGe @ @wrweweaeewee @FeprpeeeGeeeeeg&e@ & wee a = ag = wa _—=_ ane ow = ee qnerenmeeee@ee ee ef wer aenepebaewe@areanwemee @&@ een ee ag ae emp & ow =P a» wmwDeme@e wf we ww SF ee BP = Ss DP ae or ae = a Seeds from the twenty-eight species of wecsds, including ‘the two prasses,---June grass and red top,---were found in the ‘fifty-two samples 6f clover secd examined. The list is given -below and the number of samples in which each was found. As will be seen sorrel occurs more frequently than any other fol- ‘lowed by yellow dock, and that by green fox-tail. Of the other weeds, plantain, June-grass, Lady's thumb and pigeon grass evi- dently predominate. Agrostis alba Amarantis retroflexus Ambrosia artemisiaefolia Bromus secalinus Chenopodium album Cnicus lanceolatus Kleocharis ovata Lactuca Canadensis Lepidium intermedium Lepidium Virginicum Or WH FE HO Pe Pe FE Maruta cotula Panticam capillare Panicum Crus-galli Panicum sanguinale Plantago lanceolata Plantago major oO Oe %~O fs Plantago Rugelii ] Poa pratensis 6 Polygonum hydropiper 1 Polygonum persicaria D Patentilla Norvegiaa l Rumex acetosella 36 Rumex crispus 18 Rumex obtusifolius l Setaria glauca searia viridis 14 Silene noctiflora Stellaria media | The nature of the different weeds, ani the varying sizes ‘of their seeds, render the per cents by wieght as given in the preceding pages somewhat unsatisfactory. The relative number of seeds would perhaps be a better means of estimation; but such an examination would necessitate more work ard time than, judging from the results, could profitably be put upon it. The inves- ‘tigation shows, at least, this much, that weed seeds are almost invariably present in clover seed. Within certain limits, the kind of weed seed is moré tmpor- tant than the amount. For example, the presence of three or four ‘per cent. of sorrel -r pepper-grass would not be so undesirable as even one per cent. of rib-grass. That vthe favmer should be able to recognize uhe common weed seeds, and thus to know what ‘impurities he buys with the clover seed, needs scarcely an argu- ment, beyond an examinatior of a few varieties offered for sale. ‘The aim of those writing upon this subje*t, should be to call -his attention to the matter, to encourage him to make a collec- ‘tion of the weed secds for reference, and to insist tha no cle ver seed should be bought without an examination showing reason- ‘able freedom from weed: seeds. witFs Below are shown in a convenient form seeds from the twen- ty-eight species already mentioned. At least a collection of this kind with even mors of the common weea seeds should be in the hands of every seed producer and every purchaser »°f secds. In this way, only, van the farmer be assured of not increasing ithe weediness of his farm,:when using seeds purchased on the market. Agrostis alba. (Red top) Amarantus retrof lexus. (Pig-weed) Ambrosia artemisiacfolia. (Rag-weed) Bromus secalinus.(Cness) Chenopodium album. (Pig-weed) Cnicus lanceolatus. (Bull thistle) Eleocharis ovata. (A sedge) Lactuca Canadensis. (Wild lettuce) Lepidium intermedium. (Peppersrass) aide Lepidium Virginicum. (Peppergrass) Maruta cotula. (May-weed) Panicum capillare. (91ld-witch-grass) Panicum niscadli eC Manianicesneds Panicum sanguinale. (Crab-grass) Plantago lanceolata. (English plantain) Plantago major,(Common plantain) Plantago Rugelii. (Plantain) Poa pratensis. (June-grass) Polygonum hydropiper. (Smart-weed) Polygonum persicaria.(Lady's thumb) “x - se * x - fF wt ENE ans EF | = ° - . , . -]5- Potentilla Norvegici. (Cinque-foil) Rumex acetosella. (Sorrel) Rumex crispus. (Yellow dock) Rumex obtusifolius. (Bitter dock) Setaria glauca. (Pigeon grass) Setaria viridis. (Pigeon