10 Bulletin Number 12.4. I A . _ _
» V dent enough when the seed is examined with a lens, is_so small as ~ Y
l . to afford no clue to the presence of trefoilunder ordinary inspec- ‘
.tion. Fig. 9, D. V · . —- , a ‘
i ; Sweet Clover or Bokhara Clover (M eliloius alba) seedis anoth- -
~   er proscribed adulterant. The plant producing it has become some-
" a 3   ` what well known of late because of its resemblance when young to _
. .   alfalfa. It grows spontaneously everywhereiin Kentucky, a fact ~ A
e { e sometimes thought to explain the general presence of the nodule A
` V AA bacteria of alfalfa in Kentucky soils. Itiremains to be proven,
_   j however, that the two organisms are identicalj · The forage is not
i -   ‘ a · liked by our animals, almost any of the_tested_forage plants being
A { eaten in preference. It is more highly thought of in Mississippi,
  - where, I am told, cattle eat it readily enough. It mlay be distinguish- e
  L ed from alfalfa at any stage of growth by the sweetish odor given off - _
.   Q l by the crushed or wilted leaves. When grown it_ reaches a height of ·
~A       5 to 6 feet and bears slender sprays of small white flowers much ~
__ Aff   7 liked by bees. The seed is oval in shape, slightlyflattened, with an
Q     l evident oblique groove on one side, the scar well towa.rd the smaller _
      end, the indentation being commonly very slight, and the outline
  . .   thus more regularly oval. Surface, dull (opaque). Length, 0.08;
,..·,     (fcgi; I0A.(L6; thickness,0.05 inch.   Ayellgwislg blrgown in color A I
;_»;;,A—.iA i e is ; no purp e in examp es s u ie . ig. , .
  Cf;   1 Yellow Sweet Clover (Melrilotus offibinalis) is another species _
  ' mentioned in the law as a possible adulterant. The plant is less
_A  l g common than the whAite—blossomed species described above, and · ·
31      grows less tall. It may be seen along roadsides at times as scatter-
    ed plants. The foliage is much like that of white sweet clover, - ,`
    but the blossoms, though disposed in the same way, are yellow in- A·
    stead of white. The seed also, resembles that of the related species,
    but averages, in a sample before me, a very little smaller. I lts sur-
    face is opaque, the scar near the small end, the indentation slight. ·
    The oblique groove by which the other seed can generally be recog- I
  g nized is here obscure or wanting. In my sample, the seed capsule
jfA_,;:§A_A= Q is disposed to adhere to the seeds tenaciously, `and most of them . .
    remain enclosed in it. Lenmh, 0.08; width, 0.05, thickness, 0,04 { _
  inch. Color, obscure greenish to reddish yellow. Fig. 9, B, C. rf
wma ·
    I
.—<   ; A
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