The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-10-01
EXPERTS GIVE FARMERS WARNING
Government Experts Find Seedsmen
Adulterating Clover and Alfalfa.

In these days of adulterated food
stuffs and the restrictions that are be-
ing made by the local and national
government for the protection of the
consumers, the United States DEPART
ment of agriculture has discovered
that INSCRIPTIONS seedsmen are at
tempting to adulterate the forage seeds
that they are sending out to farmer
purchasers from all over the country.
Particularly is this true of the ship
ments of red clover grass and alfalfa
seeds.
To the end of protecting the farmers
and the innocent middlemen from this
latest imposition the department Of
agriculture is making an active CAM
paign in the interest of the forage crop
growers against the practice of putting
out adulterated seeds.
Although the cultivation of alfalfa
has not yet started on any large scale
In North Dakota, there are number
of farmers in adjoining counties who
have signified their intention of ex-
perimenting with the forage crop in
tho Northern soil.
The department has been conducting
some investigations simultaneously
over many different portions of the
United States and 1t has been found
that the operations Of the seedsmen
in adulterating alfalfa seed are not
confined to one or two but to all seq
tons, even the Northwest where alfal-
ia raising is yet In it's infancy.
The method pursued by the govern
ment has been for its agents to pro-
cure samples of the alfalfa grass and
clover seeds in the open market. test
the same and ii any are found to be
adulterated or misbranded, or any
seeds or Canada blue grass are oh
tanned, to publish the tests together
with the names of the persons by
whom the seeds were offered for sale.
Over 1853 samples OF seeds were
tested and of these fully 100 or nearly
one-half were found to contain seed Of
the destructive parasitic plant dodder.
Nine samples were found to contain
seed of the yellow terfoil and nine
samples were adulterated with burr
clover.
Yellow Trefoil, the government ex-
perts explain, is not used to any ex-
tent as a forage plant in the United
States, but the seed is imported from
Europe at about 5 cents per pound
for use as an adulterant or red clover
and alfalfa seed. Although burr
clover is cultivated in the Gulf states,
the seed found mixed with alfalfa is
not the commercial burr clover seed
Of this country, but by-proiuct Sc
cured in the cleaning South American
wool, and is imported from Germany
in low-grade alfalfa seed.
Farmers in every part of the coun-
try are warned by the department to
be on the lookout for adulterated red
clover and alfalfa seed. The United
States department of agriculture. in
order to protect the seedsmen as we'll
as the farmers, offers to examine and
report promptly as to the presence of
adulterants and dodder in any samples
of seeds that may be submitted for
that purpose. The samples may be
sen to the bureau of plant industry,
United States department of agricu!-
turc
The department will also furnish at
request the names of those seedsmen
who sell adulterated clover and alfalfa
seeds. The list already prepared con-
tains the names of firms in Milwaukee,
Wis; Fremont. Neb; Davenport,
Iowa; Detroit, Mich: Toledo, Ohio:
Indianapolis. Ind: Providence. R. l..
and Worcester. Mass.