The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-04-19
WARNS AGAINST
QUACK GRASS
PROF. y. |. RoLLEY SENDS suL.
LETlN AND CIRCULAR TO FARM.
Frs AND SEED DEALERS WARN.
ING AGAINST ouAck. GRASS IN
bronze GRASS SEED.

The following bulletin has been is.
sued by Prof. H. L. Bolley, botanis
and state seed commissioner Of thu
agricultural college and can be Sc.
cured by addressing him:
Since the pure seed law went into
effect. there has been a persistent
complaint on the part Of a. numbe,
81 wholesale seed houses that il Il
very difficult to find bronze grass seed
which does not contain quack grass
seed.
MY inyafiable reply to these letters
mas been: II it is not possible to
procure bronze grass seed free from
quack grass seed, / believe that the
North Dakota farmers viii agree with
me that 1t is better not to sell or SOW
such seed" know it to be essentially
fact that there are many fields Of
bronze grass In which 1t would he ar
ficult to find quack grass. also
know that many fields contain small
patches OF quack grass and Ii is these
tnat are supplying most Of the quack
seed that goes on the market.
On account Of the drought last year
the supply OF bronze grass seed was
greatly reduced. II you have good
bronze grass sod in which you are sure
there is no quack grass, it win be
worth while to allow 1t to go 10 seed.
The crop ought to pay well as seed
producer for anyone who will see that
his field Is free from quack grass. If
not, you should in no case think of
cutting 1t for sale as seed, as practically
all Of the northwestern states have
laws prohibiting the sale OF such
quack infested seed. All should take
an interest in this matter or else
quack grass will soon become q curse
to this grain growing region.
IL any farmer who has q field OF
bronze grass which he thinks he win
let stand for seed the coming year will
communicate with me. will make ar
rangements to have the field inspected
during the growth season. If no uuack
grass is found, and the seed il prop
erly saved. there should be a good
sale for IL. In respect to this matter.
/ win be glad 4- hear from anyone
and il during the coming season, you
are In doubt as TO whether you have
quack grass growing on your lands
send us in a portion of the stem. roots
and leaves. and we will tell YOU
whether or not the plant you send
lis quack grass.
Mr. Rolley has sent the. following
circular TO all seed houses outside the
state;
Prohibited Seeds.
call your attention To the fact
that the North Dakota pure seed law
prohibits the sale and distribution Of
agricultural seeds which contain the
seeds OF either quack grass. Canada
thistle, SOW thistle or o. dodder.
Therefor in submitting samples of
seeds for purchase in this state you
will facilitate your work If you submit
only samples which represent bulks
OF seed which you can furnish tree
from these types OF weed seeds.
Our Investigations show that auack
grass seed is most commonly found
In bronze grass seed, codder in alfalfa
seed, and Canada thistle seed in Cana
da blue grass seed. These sorts Of
forage seeds should, therefore, receive
very careful scrutiny before being sent
into North Dakota
As the law was new on the books
and as we desired to give everyone
an opportunity TO become familiar
with its provisions we have not III
our various publications, or in our
annual report published names 81
firms who have offered seeds In this
state which were of low quality. we
shall. however. during the present wear.
put the publicity clauses OF the 1aw
into effect; and In order that the dis
trfbution Of weed seeds shali be re-
duced to a minimum, we shall. III All
cases Of evident negligence Or dis
regard OF the law. have the parties
in the distribution of such
seeds made responsible for the penal
ties as called for In the law whether
they are agents for you, or dealers ii
and distributors OF your seeds.
would, therefore, respectfuIly sur-l
gest that you sell Or submit FOR con