The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-02-07
ADULTERANTS USED
BY SEED DEALERS
Kentucky Bluegrass and Alfalfa
are Sufferers
MANY ANALYSES MADE
Cheap Seed Similar in Appearance Is
Mixed With the Real Article and
Sold BY Sample to Con-
sumeTs.

Washington February 6-(Special.)--In
a letter to Representative South Trimble
OF the Seventh Kentucky district, Pro-
lessor Galloway, chief Of the bureau OF
plant Industry, department of agriculture,
says a large amount of adulterated seed
is now offered for sale by seedsmen In
the agricultural appropriation bill TWO
years ago. Representative Trimble secured
the adoption of provision requiring the
secretary of agriculture to eNsmine sam
pies of seeds of grass, clover alfalfa ana
blue grass and where any of them were
found to be adulterated or misbranded the
names of the sellers were to be published
In compliance with this the department
has issued several circulars giving the
names of firms guilty of adulteratlng
seed. and Professor Galloway today in
formed Representative Trimble that many
other firms are guilty Of the same prac-
tice. The official writes Mr., Trimhle that
as a result of publications heretofore
made considerable attention has been
called to the practice of adulerating seed
and farmers and seedsmen are scrutlniz-
ing much more closely the samples Whlch
are being offered them. This" says Pro-
fessor Galloway, SIS seen from the In
creasing number of samples which are
being submitted to us for examination
Will Benefit Farmers.
Department officials are confident that
the work being undertaken will be of
great benefit to the farmers of the coun-
try and will result in better quality of
seed being placed on the market.
Professor Galloway writes Mr.. Trimble
that the adulteration is practically con-
fined to four of our most important for
age plants: Kentucky bluegrass, red clo-
yer, alfalfa and orchard grass. Since
July 1, 1904, the department has obtained
in the open market from seedsmen some
1850 samples of these -FOUR kinds of seeds
which have been examined. The red
clover has in all cases been adulterated
with yellow trefoil, which Is quite SINH
lar In appearance to that of both red
clover and alfalfa, and Is easily mistaken
for either of these when not examined
carefully. A farmer whose attention has
not been particularly called to the use
of this adulterant would hardly discover
its presence, This seed is imported from
Germany for the express purpose of being
used as an adulterant of red clover and
alfalfa and it has not entered into agricul-
ture in the United States. The plant is a
low growing legume somewhat similar to
clover but of practically no use in any
region where either clover or alfalfa will
succeed. In one case the trefoil seed
had been killed before it was added y
the red clover. In the fiscal year 1903-19O4,
about 10000 pounds of trefoil seed was
imported and in 190i-1905 about one-half
of that amount.
AduIterants of Alfalfa.
In addition to yellow trefoil,' writes
Professor Galloway to Mr.. Trimble, there
are two other kinds of seeds. sweet co-
yer and bur clover, which appear as adul-
terants of alfalfa. Sweet clover is rank
growing weed throughout the northern
states, but has been used as forage
plant in some parts of the SOUTH espe-
eially Texas.
THE bur clover which is used as an
adulterant of alfalfa seed is all imported,
being a hy-produet from the cleaning of
South American wool. A large proportion
of the low grade alfalfa which is con-
stantly being imported from Germany
contains more or less Of this bur clover
seed obtained from wool.
"Of the samples of orchard grass which
have been examined 133 have been found
to be adulterated, The seeds most ceal-
monty used as adulterants or orchard