Professional Documents
Culture Documents
HAROLD C. LONG
vuln Lib.
LIBRARY.
OF THE
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA.
Class
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COMMON WEEDS OF THE
FARM AND GARDEN
COMMON WEEDS OF
THE FARM & GARDEN
BY
IN COLLABORATION WITH
NEW YORK
FREDERICK A. STOKES COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
^ |3 0> ( .3
ic.
Dept
I DEDICATE
THIS VOLUME TO
206456
That which ye sow ye reap. See yonder fields !
*'Convolvulus
arvemis Senecio vulgaris
*Polygonum Convolvulus *Galium Aparine
*Polygonum Aviculare Vicia sativa
*Rumex * Matricaria inodora
sp.
*
Tussilago Farfara Plantago major
*Mentha arvensis Lychnis alba
*Sinapis arvensis ^Euphorbia exigua
*Sonchus arvensis *Alopecurus agrestis
* Stellar ia media
*Agrostis sp.
Papaver sp. Triticum repens
* Ranunculus arvensis Poa annua
* Viola * Veronica
sp. sp.
Potentilla Anserina Myosotis sp.
sEthusa Cynapium Alchemilla arvensis
Scandix Pecten- Veneris
express much
gratitude for the kind help received from
the Agents-General for the Colonies, and from foreign
departments of agriculture, as well as for information
received through the Colonial Office and Foreign Office
by the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries .and kindly
placed at my disposal. I am much indebted to the
artists who have contributed such excellent work for
the improvement volume, especially to my wife
of this
look out with a lively interest for the aid which readers
will be in a position to give.
If this volume helps in but a small degree to
eliminate some of our weeds, the labour of preparing
it will not have been in vain. I
hope the critics will
INTRODUCTION xi
How
I. WHAT WEEDS
CROPS AND STOCK
ARE, AND
...... THEY AFFECT OUR
BIBLIOGRAPHY . . .' / . .
372
APPENDICES-
APPENDIX
II.
1
....
...
. .
378
384
III. -409
iv. . .
429
V. . .
432
i. roots
.... 21
. . . . . . .
.
337
83. Fool's Parsley (sEthusa Cynapium L.)
5
'. . . .
298
10. Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis L.) 56
86. Garden or Black Nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) . .
304
34. Goosefoot, Fat Hen (Chenopodium album L.) . . .120
35-
26.
100.
v
Hand-power Machine
seedlings
Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris L.)
for
......
Water Weeds....
121
97
342
20.
81.
Hedge Parsley (Torilis nodosa L.)
Hemlock (Conium mactilatum L.)
Horn wort (Ceratophyllum demersum
..... 82
295
.....
'
94. L.) . . .
331
71. Horse-tail (Equisetum arvense L.) 228
5. Implements for Use In Eradicating Weeds 37
79#. "Java "Beans 291
48. Knapweed, Hardheads (Centaurea nigra L.) . .
176
Knot weed (Polygonum Aviculare L.)
33.
1 Lady's Mantle (Alchemilla arvensis Lamk.)
8. ... 117
80
76. Lousewort (Pedicularis palustris L.) . . . . .
273
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS xvii
FIG. PAGE
92. Mare's Tail (Hippitris vulgaris L.) . . . .' .
326
66. Marsh Bent-grass (Agrostis alba L.) . .
:
; .
:
.
217
65. Mat-grass (Nardus stricta L.) . "'. .
;
-.
:
. . 216
6. Mattocks . .
, . . . "'.
?
V *.-
!
>
"
38
89. Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale L.)
'
'*
'
. .
315
77. Monkshood (Aconituw Napellus L.) . i
*
'. . >
277
101. Motor Punt Weed-cutter . .' ; .' . . .
342
41. Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium triviale Link.) . .
157
84. Nightshade, Deadly (Atropa Belladonna L.) .
301
86. ,, Garden {Solamim nigrum L.) . . .
304
85. Woody (Solanum Dulcamara L.) .
*
. '.
303
27. Nipplewort (Lapsana communis L.) . . . *' .
98
32. Persicaria or Redshank (Polygonum Persicaria L.) .
.115
36. Petty Spurge (Euphorbia Peplus L.) 123
3. Poppy Killer 35
52.
79$.
43.
Ragwort (Senecio Jacobcea L.)
Red Rangoon Beans
Rest Harrow (Onojiis spinosa
........ L.)
188
291
162
. .
225
91. Water Crowfoot (Raminculus peltatus Fries.) . . .
324
82. Dropwort ((Enanthe crocata L.) ,,,.,.
. . .
297
93. Milfoil (Myriophyllum verticillatum L.) . . .
327
97. Plantain (Alisma Plantago L.) ..,.,; -. . .
.
335
92. Starwort (Callitriche verna L.) ...._ . . .
326
2.
Weed-distributing Area . . . . . . . 22
79^. White Beans . ...... .
- -
. - , 291
62. Wild Onion (Allimn vineale L.) .
,,.,, . . .. . 210
63. Wood-rush (Luzula campestris Willd.) . . . . , 212
85. Woody Nightshade (Solanum Dulcamara L.) . . .
303
68. Yorkshire Fog (Holcus lanatus L.) 221
102. Ziemsen's Weed-cutting Saw
343
'
... 379
. . . . .
II' 5>
381
I 11 '
..... 383
COMMON WEEDS OF THE
FARM AND GARDEN
CHAPTER I
" a weed is a
IT frequently stated that
is plant out of
place," meaning that it is a plant growing in such a
position and under such conditions that it is
interfering
in some way with a cultivated crop, rendering a lawn
or a gravel drive unsightly, or in some other way making
itselfobjectionable. For our present purpose we may
consider that a weed any plant, of whatever nature,
is
which is
growing where the agriculturist or
found
horticulturist has not placed it and does not desire
it to
grow. Thus, from this point of view, just as the
common poppy is a weed in the wheat field, so would
wheat equally be a weed if growing amongst the
gardener's Shirley poppies and just as thistles are
;
i . Uses of Weeds
true than the adage, " One year's seeding is seven years'
weeding."
(b) Another way in which weeds are useful annual
ones, perhaps, especially is that they act in the same
way as green manure when ploughed under, and even
such weeds hoed up and left to die on the surface
sooner or later become mixed with the soil and im-
prove it in various ways. During their active growth
they take up carbonic acid gas from the atmosphere,
utilise the carbon, and return the oxygen both acts
in themselves useful in purifying the air and, on
USES OF WEEDS 3
broad flat leaves, under which grass does not grow, the
removal of the weed leaving a bare patch. Under ideal
conditions the whole of the cultivated area should be
occupied, even if not covered, by the planted crop.
(b) Weeds rob cultivated Crops of (i) Food; (2) Light,
Air, and Heat; (3) Moisture. When we see a cornfield
crowded with weeds we may be quite sure that these
not only take up much space, but that they also rob the
cultivated crop of food, light, and moisture.
(i) A large crop of weeds not only takes up much
carbonic acid gas from the atmosphere, but needs a
considerable quantity of mineral food, which can only
be obtained from the soil and from the manures applied
for the sown crop. That weeds absorb soluble in-
gredients from the soil in considerable quantity is clearly
shown by analysis. Some analyses made at Konigs-
berg, and lately reported by Professor Stutzer and L.
Seidler, show that the amounts of nitrogen, phosphoric
1
WEED "
HOST." INSECT.
" "
C Turnip Flea Beetle or Fly
Charlock (Sinapis arvensis) andj (Phyllotreta(PIaltica]nemorum\
similar Crucifers . . .1 Cabbage and Turnip Gall Weevil
\ (Ceutnrhvnr.hus
(Ceutorhynchus sulcicnllis}.
sulcicollis],
N H
fehaJ vS" ban
eS
?.'.. 5d ?f) Colorado Beetle (Dorvthora de-
Gh Uer M
Docks, Thistles, Burdock . .
j / ^ / j
r th
"
WEED HOST." FUNGUS.
,, ,, .
Peronosporaparasitica De Bary.
12 COMMON WEEDS
WEED "HOST." FUNGUS.
"j
sclerotiorum Mass.).
faceaTul.).
grasses . . . ) ^wlHtfTuL).
( Rust of wheat (Puccinia grami-
Barberry \ nis Pers .
}<
(
Gooseberry-leaf Cluster-cups (Puc-
Sedges (Larex] . . .
TJ ,
Hawkweed (Hieradum} /
. .
N
. .
(Chrysanthemum Rust (Puccinia
j h ]eracii Mart)<
" In
many cases the moderately-weeded areas carried
from 40 to 50 per cent more crop than those on which
the weeds were unchecked." Again, according to
2
Maier-Bode, Wollny has placed the annual loss of crops
due to weeds in Bavaria at an average of 30 per cent.
3
Investigations conducted in Norway by E. Korsmo
show that the effect of weeds on the yield and money
value of crops is very serious. Hay, barley, and pota-
toes were each grown on duplicate plots of the same
size, one being clean and the other weed-infested. The
crops were carefully weighed and the yields calculated
per hectare. The results may be given thus in English
1
Jour. Bd. Agric., March, 1904.
2
Fr. Maier-Bode, Die Bekampfung der Acker- Unkrduter.
3
Tidsskr. Norske Landbr. 10 (1903), Nos. 6, pp. 247-280; 7, pp. 295-
330. (Review by F. W. Woll in U.S. Expt. Sta. Record, 1903-4, p. 683.)
i6 COMMON WEEDS
figures (taking 2.2 lb.= i
kilogram, and 2.48 acres =
i
hectare) :
HARM DONE BY WEEDS 17
already discussed.
The practical thinking farmer or gardener who knows
his business and is thoroughly alive to his own interests
will allow no weeds to grow if he can possibly help it.
Foxglove.
Perennials are those plants which live and continue
to produce flowers and seeds for a number of years in
succession they grow from seed, and may be propa-
;
1
Nature, 1895, pp. 544-5.
2
The Vitality and Germination of Seeds, Bull. No. 58, Bur. Plant Indust.,
U.S. Dept. Agric., 1904.
26 COMMON WEEDS
temperature of 72 F. below freezing-point, still to
possess high germinating powers radish 92 per cent,
1
lettuce 85 per cent, turnip 96 per cent, &C. All this
suggests that the length of life of many weed seeds may
be considerable.
An interesting case showing the length of time seeds
will lie dormant in the soil and germinate when brought
to the surface occurred in connection with the Yeomanry
manoeuvres in 1901. A large rabbit warren on the
Oxfordshire hills was dug and levelled, no other soil
being used nor seeds of any kind sown. Yet in 1902
the whole surface produced a dense plant of yellow
Charlock. In the following year the Charlock died
down and was succeeded by a mass of White Campion
(Lychnis vespertind). The seeds of both plants must have
been buried in the earth for an unknown period of
years, and the disturbance of the soil enabled them to
2
germinate.
The number of weed seeds which may be found in
the soil of a field isalso extraordinary. Korsmo found
that in i square metre (1.19 square yard) of a fallow
field the seeds having power of germination, to a depth
of 25 centimetres (9.8 inches), were 10,332. This
was determined by three different weedings. In a
fieldintended for spring grain, the same crop having
been sown for four successive years, no less than
33,574 such weed seeds were found per square metre.
In a third field, which was fallowed, the seeds found
numbered 1,755.
In a good garden soil which has been well cultivated
for at least three years, few weeds having been allowed
to shed their seed during that time, the author measured
off j square yard and removed all the seedling weeds
1
The Times, 6th December 1904.
Lawns, Sutton & Sons, p. 9.
2
WEEDS INDICATING GOOD LAND 27
Number.
Buttercup (? Ranunculus repens)
chiefly 654
Various ......
Clover (Tnfoliutn sp.)
120
i
Total 1,050
Damp Soils.
CHAPTER III
PREVENTION
Under this heading may be included such operations
as cultivation, rotations, sowing of clean seed, and
prevention of seeding of weeds.
(a) Good Cultivation. It should at the outset be
strongly emphasised that good cultivation of the
highest order only largely conducive to the
is not
suppression of weeds, annual and perennial alike, but
29
3o COMMON WEEDS
is perhaps of greater importance in the growth of good
crops than any other factor in practical agriculture.
In dealing with insect infestation Professor Somerville
"
writes :
Using the term in its widest sense, good
cultivation will be found to be the best protection that
the farmer or gardener can offer his crops against the
ravages of insects." This remark applies with equal
force to weeds in fact, one of the chief reasons that
;
on to his land.
REMEDY
From what has already been said under " Preven-
"
tion it willbe gathered that at many points " Pre-
"
vention and "Remedy" are almost identical, since
cultivation, prevention of seeding, brushing of hedges
and ditches, all tend to eradicate weeds as well as
prevent future infestation. No hard and fast line can
be drawn between the two, and a certain amount of
overlapping will of necessity occur in the suggestions
already made and those which follow.
(a) Thorough Cultivation : Ploughing, Harrowing, Hoeing,
&c. Not only does cultivation in the broadest sense
c
34 COMMON WEEDS
tend to prevent the growth of many seeds, but such
cultivation must frequently be employed without fail
if weeds are to be eradicated. Perhaps the large
majority of weeds are destroyed when ploughed under.
Scarifying and harrowing may drag out Couch, Bind-
weed, and Creeping Thistle, which may then be
drawn together burning by means of a stout horse-
for
rake ; harrowing leaves many weeds on the surface
to be scorched by the sun or destroyed by frost ;
FIG. 3. Poppy Killer used for light surface cultivation. (After a photograph
published by the Board of Agriculture. )
bagging- or fagging-hook is
very handy for cutting
Thistles and other weeds on
small areas of grass land,
trimming round farm build-
ings and along hedgerows
and ditches (Fig. 5).
Hand pulling must fre-
quently be adopted as the
only feasible means of re-
FIG. 6. Two types cf implements use- weeds, especially
eradicating weeds a. a type
ful for :
in the Case of tall Species
ofMattock used in Germany b. a
more common form of Mattock,
;
weeds,however,must
still be dealt with by
Percentage of Weeds
contained in the Crop.
Undunged
Sulphate of Ammonia 30.0
Nitrate of Soda 26.0
Sulphate of Magnesia i o.o
Common Salt .
7.0
Sulphate of Potash 5-5
Carbonate of Lime 4-9
Quicklime 4-5
Superphosphate 4-4
Gypsum .
1-9
1
Dr. Fr. Nobbe, Handbuch der Samenkunde, 1876, p. 578.
2
Jour. Dept. Agric., Victoria, August 10, 1908.
REMEDIAL MEASURES 43
uninjured.
The solutions are partially effective on Docks, Black
Bindweed (Polygonum Convolvulus), Dandelion, Perennial
Sow Thistle (Sonchus arvensis), Poppy (see p. 55),
Spurrey (see p. 74), Groundsel, and Corn Cockle, and
while these are not completely destroyed, seeding is
generally prevented. Spraying with solutions of the
strengths mentioned above has also no permanent effect
on Cornflower (Centaurea Cyanus), Bindweeds (Convol-
vulus sp.), Creeping Thistle (Cnicus arvensis), species
of Anthemis and Matricaria, Couch and Horse-tails.
RANUNCULACE.E
Mousetail (Myosurus minimus L.) is a small annual of
cornfields, especially on damp land.' It is 3 to 6 inches
high, with erect, fleshy, linear leaves, and flowering
stems, at the end of which are single, minute yellow-
green flowers. Flowering takes place between April
and June. In the fruiting stage the receptacle of the
flower elongates enormously, when the stem and its
achenes superficially resemble a miniature Plantain. It
is not
usually so plentiful as to be a serious pest,
and, being an annual, thorough cultivation will keep
it under.
Creeping Buttercup (Ranunculus repens L.) must be
classed as one of the worst weeds of arable land. This
Buttercup (Fig. 8) is a hairy perennial, with leaves
divided into three segments, the segments also being
lobed and toothed stems i to 2 feet high, bearing yellow
;
is plentiful on the
the chalk formation, and strong and
clayey wolds of North Lincolnshire, few being found
on the light soils and it is found in summer fallow
;
PAPAVERACE.E
character, and when buried .in the soil may retain their
vitality for some years, germinating and producing new
plants when brought to the surface under favourable
conditions. This fact was recognised over a century
" The seeds remain
ago :
underground, retaining their
vegetative powers for a long time, and furnishing a
fresh crop of Poppies whenever the earth is turned
1
over." It is therefore clear that if the Poppy is per-
stated 2
common Scarlet Poppy is very sensitive
that the
to a 13 to 20 per cent solution of sulphate of iron, and
since a cereal crop can withstand a 15 per cent solu-
tion (vide Charlock spraying), a solution of such a
strength should be tried. With a solution of either of
the sulphates 40 gallons will suffice for an acre.
(As to the poisonous properties of Poppies, see p.
281.)
FUMARIACE^:
Common Fumitory (Fumaria officinalis L.) is a common
annual of a rather prostrate habit of growth, often
plentiful in cornfields on light, sandy, and loamy soils.
This plant (Fig. 10) is i to ij feet high, with much
divided leaves, and long racemes of many irregular dark
or pale rose-purple flowers, which appear between May
and September. It is occasionally very troublesome,
but, being an annual, can be got rid of by persistent
hoeing and surface cultivation in spring and early
summer.
CRUCIFER^E
1
Jour. R.A.S.E., 1902, p. 360.
2
F. Maier-Bode, Die Bekanipfiing der Acker- Unkrauter 1908.
58 COMMON WEEDS
be considered here. Crucifers should be cut down
and eradicated, both because they are harmful to crops,
and because they harbour insects and fungi injurious to
farm and garden crops.
Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinaleL.) is a common
weed of hedgerows, waste places, and roadsides, in
which latter position " it seems to have a peculiar apti-
"
tude for collecting and retaining dust (Johns). It
cut down.
Charlock (Sinapis arvensis L.), so well known as
Kedlock, Skellock, Yellow Weed, and Wild Mustard, is
a ubiquitous weed of arable land, especially cornfields,
and is probably more troublesome on almost all soils
(especially light calcareous loams) than any other
annual. It is a tall, rough, branched weed, with large
ovate or lyrate toothed leaves, yellow flowers of \ inch
or over in diameter, and spreading, angled, rough
pods i to 2 inches long (Fig. n). When pulled by
hand Charlock quickly discolours the skin a dirty
green.
Not only is this pest a strong, rapid grower, but
WEEDS OF ARABLE LAND 59
itproduces an abundance of seed, which ripens quickly,
and has a wonderful vitality which enables it to lie for
many years in the soil uninjured, and later such buried
seed may germinate when brought to the. surface.
Further, the seeds ripen before cereal crops are cut,
and this affords an opportunity for the perpetuation of
the weed, which
is only overcome
with the greatest
difficulty. If land
be laid down to
pasture, Charlock
will disappear,
being exclusively
a weed of culti-
vated land but ;
weed, 6 to 1 8 inches
high (Fig. it is
13) ;
E
66 COMMON WEEDS
occasionally very troublesome in arable land. Only
last summer (1909) a friend wrote to the author from
Lincolnshire I
: never saw Pepperwort here until a
lt
across, while the round flat pods are two or three times
this diameter, broadly winged, with a deep notch at the
1
W. C. Brown. See p. 241.
WEEDS OF ARABLE LAND 67
top, and borne on slender stalks. The seed-vessels have
been compared in appearance with silver pennies they ;
VIOLACE.E
CARYOPHYLLACE^E
1
August 30, 1909.
2
Agric. Dept., Univ. Coll. N. Wales, Bangor, Bull, ix., 1906; Bull.
vii., 1907.
WEEDS OF ARABLE LAND 75
a crop badly infested with the weed may be fed off
with sheep before the seeds are ripe. The weed is
also occasionally made into hay. Wolff quotes the
l
following analyses of Spurrey :
76 COMMON WEEDS
e.g. vetches smother it out. If very plentiful in
GERANIACE.E
Three species of Geranium or Crane's-bill commonly
occur as weeds of arable land. All are annual or
biennial weeds, all flower between the months of May
and September, and in all the fruit is extended into
WEEDS OF ARABLE LAND 77
a " re-
long beak/'
sembling the bill of a
crane, hence the name
Crane's-bill (Geranium is
derived from the Greek
geranos, a crane).
Dove's-foot Crane's-
bill (Geranium molle L.)
is softly hairy, prostrate
in habit, with branches
up to i foot long, leaves
somewhat round, and
seven- to nine-lobed, and
rose-purple or pink
flowers nearly J inch in
diameter. This species
chiefly occurs on light,
sandy, loamy and cal-
careous soils, and the
seeds are commonly
found as an impurity in
samples of white clover.
Cut-leaved Crane's-
bill (G. dissectum L.) is a
hairy weed, with long,
slender, spreading,
branched stems roundish ;
ROSACES
Silver-weed or Goose Grass (Potentilla Anserina L.)
is a perennial weed of prostrate habit, very common by
roadsides,its glossy, silky, silvery-white pinnate leaves,
'
UMBELLIFER^:
Shepherd's Needle
(Scandix Pecten-Veneris L.),
also known as Needles,
Venus' Comb, and Crow's
Needles, is an annual weed
of cornfields, especiallyon
light and chalky soils, and
is sometimes
very trouble-
some. In North Lincoln-
shire, for example, it
flower.
some on the strong land,
which runs some
places in valleys or on the edge, of
in
"
the chalk (W. C. B.). Hooker describes the Shepherd's
Needle as " a cornfield weed from Ross southwards."
The Shepherd's Needle (Fig. 19) is a small plant of
F
82 COMMON WEEDS
6 to inches high, much branched from the base,
1 8
somewhat hairy, with leaves finely cut into slender
segments. The umbels of small white flowers are at
the end and side of the stem, and the fruit is prolonged
into a very slender rough beak, i to 3 inches long,
hence the names of the plant.
Flowering occurs between June
and September.
This weed is perhaps of suffi-
ciently early growth in spring for
much of it to be destroyed by
surface cultivation, but in corn
crops it may be necessary to hand
pull it, although this is too tedious
and expensive an operation on
large areas. Where very plentiful
it is worth while to take two root
crops in succession a late sown ;
RUBIACE^E
FIG. 21. Left : Cleavers (Galium Aparine L.), with seedling x and flower nat
,
size. Right : Field Madder (Sherardia arvensis L.), x, and flower nat. size.
WEEDS OF ARABLE LAND 85
whom they are easily distributed. The whole plant is
very rough to the touch it is often chopped up and
;
fed to poultry.
Cleavers is especially troublesome among cereal crops
on light, loamy soils, climbing among the corn, pulling
it down, and rendering harvesting difficult. The fruits
are found in samples of red clover, Italian ryegrass,
and seed corn, and care should be taken that they are
not in this way introduced to the farm. Percival says,
" In some of the worst cases we have seen the weed
was brought to the farm by dung containing the seeds,"
and this source of contamination should be guarded
against. The seedlings (Fig. 21) are much like the
mature plants, and easily recognisable. The pest is
most conveniently eradicated by hoeing during the
spring months, and by surface cultivation generally.
Corn Bedstraw (Galium tricorne With.) closely re-
sembles Cleavers, but is smaller and has more prostrate
stems the fruits are large, with no clinging hooks, and
;
COMPOSITE
Cornflower, Corn Bluebottle (Centaurea Cyanus L.) is
an annual or biennial i to 2 feet high, with blue flowers,
and is a favourite garden plant, there being several
cultivated varieties of different colours. Flowering takes
place from June to September, and the seeds are easily
scattered by the wind. Although the Cornflower appears
occasionally in grass land, it is, as its name implies,
chiefly a weed of cornfields, and it is said to be a good
index of poor sandy soils. Hoed crops and surface
cultivation during the spring months reduce it care ;
FIG. 22. Coltsfoot (Tussilago Farfara L.), as seen in March, and showing the
extensively creeping rootstock.
particularly
soils, calcareous, an if abundance of lime
cut off the light supply from the young growing corn
FIG. 23. Piece of ground infested with Coltsfoot (Tussilago Farfara L.),
showing the leaves beginning to cover the ground after flowering is nearly
over.
"
June and September, or even October. The seeds,"
which are produced in large numbers, are very light,
and blown from field to field
easily they are said
;
attempted."
This weed was troublesome to farmers a century ago.
"This plant (C. segetum) may still be found in our corn-
fields, although careful farming has greatly diminished
its places of habitation, and shortly it
may find the
1
Jotir. Bd. Agric., December, 1907.
2
Sowerby's English Botany
r
,
Ed. 3, vol. v. p. <o.
WEEDS OF ARABLE LAND 95
be taken to destroy all seeds in chaff and thrashing
refuse before giving these to stock. Thorough steam-
ing or cooking will suffice for this purpose. All waste
from thrashing which is not given to stock should be
burnt.
Should the weed be present on a farm, the seeds
should be encouraged to germinate in spring, and the
young plants destroyed by hoeing and surface cultiva-
tion. Later, hand pulling should be resorted to in
corn crops ; and since the object is to prevent seeding,
the removed plants should be burnt, for, as Fream says, of
this plant,
1 "
It is possessed of great vitality, and when
FIG. 26. Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris L.), flowering plant and seedlings,
3,000 seeds.
Chicory may sometimes be found troublesome on
arable land, especially on light sandy or calcareous
soils, and in districts where the plant has been culti-
vated in the past. The seeds occur as an impurity in
samples of clover seeds and Italian ryegrass. It should
be attacked by careful and persistent spudding to pre-
vent seeding or even strong growth above ground by ;
BORAGINE.E
SOLANACE;
PLANTAGINE^:
Ribwort Plantain (Plantago lanceolata L.) and Broad-
leaved Plantain (P. major L.) (see pp. 196-8) are both
common weeds of arable land, especially the latter.
SCROPHULARIACE^
LABIATE
Corn or Field Mint (Mentha arvensis L.) must be
classed as, in some districts, one of the worst weeds
of arable land. It is i to 2 feet high, with square
stems bearing opposite branches the leaves are ovate, ;
PRIMULACE^:
Scarlet Pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis L.), well known
as the Poor- Man's Weather-glass, from the habit of the
scarlet flowers of closing in dull and opening in fine
weather, is a widely distributed and abundant annual
of arable land, more especially on sandy and calcareous
loams. The small branched plant has stems 6 to 18
inches long, smooth, and more or less prostrate. The
leaves are small, sessile, nearly oval, and dotted beneath ;
POLYGONACE.E
Complete Grazier.
i
FIG. 33. Left : Knotweed (Polygonum Aviculare L.). Right: Black Bindweed
(P. Convolvulus^,.}. Both x.
n8 COMMON WEEDS
plants, dragging them down and choking them out.
In root crops also Black Bindweed (Fig. 33) may be
very troublesome.
The slender twining angular stems are i to 4 feet
long; the leaves are somewhat heart- or arrow-shaped,
i to 4 inches long, and shortly stalked, with two thin
stipules where the stalk joins the stem ; and the flowers,
ing these and other weed seeds are often carried back
from the elevators by farmers and fed without grinding
or scalding, which is a dangerous practice." *
Black Bindweed may be combated in several ways :
CHENOPODIACE^:
Goosefoot (Chenopodium album L.), also called Fat
Hen, Lamb's Quarters, or Meld-weed, and in Canada
and in the United States Pig- weed, is an erect branched
1
Complete Grazier.
I 20 COMMON WEEDS
annual i to 3 feet or more high (Fig. 34). The
leaves vary from i to 3 inches in length, and are
somewhat pointed, toothed, and narrow, with long
slender stalks. The very small greenish flowers appear
between July and September, and are borne in spiked
destroyed in corn
crops by surface cultivation in
spring, the seedlings being easily loosened from the
soil by harrows. Later, any plants which have escaped
observation should be hand pulled before flowering and
seeding takes place. In root and hoed crops generally
frequent and vigorous hoeing in hot sunny weather
when the plants are small, as in the seedling stage,
will easily destroy them. Pure farm seeds should
always be used.
WEEDS OF ARABLE LAND I2 3
EUPHORBIACE^
Several species of Euphorbia are troublesome either
in field cultivation or in kitchen gardens.
All are small
herbs with a milky juice.
A
Photo, 1909. jj. C. Long.
FIG. 36. Petty Spurge (Euphorbia Peplus L.). Seedling and full-grown plant.
124 COMMON WEEDS
Sun Spurge(Euphorbia Helioscopia L.) occurs chiefly
on sandy and clayey loams. It is a
in cultivated fields
smooth annual, 6 to 18 inches high, with simple or three-
branched stem. The leaves are somewhat oval, i to 2
inches long, rounded at the top the small flowers,
;
URTICACE.E
GRAMINE^E
Slender or Field Foxtail (Alopecurus agrestis L.), also
known as Black Bent or Hungerweed, is closely related
to the valuable Meadow Foxtail (A. pratensis L.), but is
annual. The spike-like panicle is frequently purplish,
more slender, not softly hairy but rough to the touch,
and each flowering glume bears a longish bent awn.
This grass (Fig. 37) is chiefly a weed of arable land,
especially cornfields on heavy soils, but will grow
strongly on many kinds of land. Fream says:
tl
Cases
are recorded in which fields of wheat have been quite
destroyed by this pest." It is an annual which flowers
EQUISETACE^:
Horse-tail (Equisetum arvense L.) is quite as trouble-
some in arable as in grass land (see p. 228). In arable
land it must be attacked by deep draining if necessary,
followed by a thorough system of cultivation. The
regular and persistent cutting of the young spore-bear-
ing shoots in March before fructification has occurred,
and of the barren green stems later, will have some
effect in reducing it. Deep draining and two heavily
manured root crops, followed if need be by a smother-
ing crop like vetches or maize, is perhaps the most
1
In an investigation conducted some twenty years ago,
the late Dr. Fream showed that the species of plants found
growing in old pastures are not numerous. The plants
to which he refers in his paper number 31 grasses,
some of them, such as Holcus lanatus, being weeds,
8 leguminous plants, and 18 miscellaneous species
of weeds not grasses or clovers. In his subsequent
2
paper he only found it
necessary to mention 2 1
grasses, 5 leguminous plants, and 22 miscellaneous
species or weeds. In the complete investigation, which
involved the examination of 80 turves taken from
pastures in 28 English counties, 6 Welsh counties, 8
Scotch counties, and 1 1 Irish counties, the following
plants occurred the stated number of times in the
80 turves:
triviale)
Common
.........
Narrow-leaved Mouse-ear Chickweed (Cerastium
alphabetical order :
years.
In changing the artificials from ammonium salts to
minerals, the immediate result* was a great diminution
in weeds and an increase in grasses, followed by a
brings about.
RANUNCULACE.E
Traveller's Joy This well-known
(Clematis Vitalba L.).
climbing plant commonly
is termed Old Man's Beard,
from the tufted feathery appearance of the fruiting
stage it can
; only be included as a weed because of
152 COMMON WEEDS
its occurrence hedges to the disadvantage of the
in
BERBERIDACE^E
CRUCIFER^:
CARYOPHYLLACE^
Ragged Robin (Lychnis Flos-cuculi L.) is a well-known
perennial, which flowers in May and June, the rosy
blossoms with deeply-cut petals being especially hand-
some. It occurs freely in moist pastures and hedgerows
and by ditches.
Bladder Campion (Silene inflata Sm.), Red Campion
(Lychnis diurna Sibth.), and White Campion (Lychnis
vespertina Sibth.) (see p. 69) also occur in meadows.
All these plants may be kept within bounds by
MALVACEAE
The Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris L.), which in
some places occurs freely on waste spots of ground,
damp meadows, and hedgerows, should be kept within
bounds by the use of scythe and hook. It is a robust
hairy plant of 2 to 3 feet in height, with showy lilac
flowers of over i inch in diameter, opening between
June and September. The soft green, unripe seed-
vessels are well known among country children as
11
cheeses" or " bread and cheese." They are not
unwholesome. The plant is biennial or perennial.
LINAGES
Bitter or Purging Flax (Linum catharticum L.) is a
small annual plant occurring in pastures and meadows,
especially those of a light calcareous nature. It is
GERANIACE^
Meadow Crane's-bill (Geranium pratense L.) and
Dove's-foot Crane's-bill (G. molle L.) occur in grass
land, the former chiefly on the moister class of meadow
or pasture, while the latter is principally harmful on
arable land.
Cut-leaved Crane's-bill (G. dissectum L.) and Herb
Robert (G. Robertianum L.) grow freely along hedge-
rows and waste ground. (See p. 77.)
The Meadow Crane's-bill can at once be distinguished
from the other three species by its very large purplish-
blue flowers, which are i to ij inch across, the other
species each having flowers of no more than | inch
across. The species is a perennial, attaining sometimes
to in height it flowers from
3 4 feet ; June to August.
As in other species, the fruit is prolonged into a long
"
beak," resembling the bill of a crane. Where this
plant inclines to be plentiful it should be regularly cut
down before flowering.
LEGUMINOS^E
merly used as a
yellow dye, and
it is likely that it
sometimes eat
and it
this plant,
communicates an
unpleasant bitter-
FlG. 42. Dyer's Green-weed (Genista tinctoria L. \
ness to their milk,
nat. size.
and even to the
2
butter and cheese made from it."
l
Knapp states that
1
'
Johnson and Sowerby, Useful Plants of Great Britain, p. 69.
2
Journal of'a Naturalist, 1829, p. 76.
IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS LAND 161
ROSACES;
ONAGRACE^E
The Willow Herbs (Epilobium hirsutum L. and E.
parviflorum Schreb.) are two perennials which occur in
damp fields and by streams and ditches, extending by
both seeds and suckers or runners. The former species,
the Great Willow Herb, known also as Codlins-and-
Cream, has woolly stems which grow to a height of 3 to
5 feet. The leaves are 3 to 5 inches long, and oblong-
lanceolate with incurved teeth, in opposite pairs. It
CUCURBITACE^:
UMBELLIFER.E
impossible to do much
in the case of this weed
2 to 3 cwt. of each
may
be applied per acre. If
sylvestris
is a Common and well- Hoffm.), x about . Flower enlarged.
1
Jour. Bd. Agric^ 1907, p. 183.
170 COMMON WEEDS
known perennial weed,
which frequently attains
a large size (3 to 6 feet
in height). It is a rough,
common on hedge
banks, roadsides, waste
places, and pastures, and
flowers in July. Where
it occurs plentifully it
may be reduced by
regular cutting.
Wild Carrot (Daucus
Carota L.) is a weed
which occurs in both
arable and pasture land,
but is chiefly common
FIG. 46. Cow Parsnip, Hogweed (Heracleum *
ra1rar*rmc unrl
Sphondylium L.), x about . Flower enlarged. On Cl Y CalCarCOUS ailQ
IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS LAND 171
RUBIACE^E
DIPSACE^:
COMPOSITE
This order furnishes a larger number of weeds to
both arable and grass land than any other, perhaps for
the reason that it includes about one-tenth of all known
flowering plants, many of which are spread by wind-
" seeds."
borne, parachute-like
The Burdock (Arctium Lappa L.) is an erect branched
biennial, with stout stem, often 3 to 4 feet high, and
large alternate, stalked, heart-shaped and pointed leaves,
usually very cottony beneath, and frequently a foot
long. The roots are strong and deep seated. The
small purple flowers appear in July and August,
grouped together into globose heads each about i
inch in diameter the heads have stiff, spiny, hooked
;
difficult to eradicate.
The Creeping Thistle (Cnicus arvensis Hoffm.) is
undoubtedly the worst of all Thistles, and is by some
held to be the commonest weed pest of agriculture.
Not only is it perennial, but to complicate matters it
spreads rapidly by means of an extensive creeping
root system (Fig. 50) which develops in all directions ;
should be made
encourage clovers and grasses to
to
choke them out.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Wigg. or Leontodon
Taraxacum L.) is one of the commonest weeds of grass
land, and needs little description. It possesses very
CAMPANULACE^:
ERICACEAE
i to
ij feet high, and flowers in July to September.
Common Heather or Ling (Calluna vulgaris Salisb.)
is also one of our commonest plants in many districts.
It is from i to 2 feet high, woody and branched, with
very small smooth, almost linear leaves. Many small
rose-coloured or white flowers on very short stalks
are produced, persisting long after the fruit is ripe.
Flowering, July to September.
Both of these plants are perennials, which occur on
heathy moorland soils and on upland pastures or
rough grazing land. If it be required to reduce them,
BORAGINE^E
PLANTAGINE^E
SCROPHULARIACE.*:
LABIATE
Self-heal (Prunella vulgaris L.) is
PKIMULACE^E
POLYGONACE^E
The only members of this order to be considered
here are the Docks and Sorrels, than which few weeds
are more troublesome, both on the farm and in the
garden. All are perennials, and most of them difficult
to eradicate.
The Common or Broad-leaved Dock (Rumex obtusi-
FIG. 58. Curled Dock (Rumex crispus L.) : note the rootstock, right-hand
portion of which has been broken off.
IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS LAND 203
whorls in erect, branched panicles (Fig. 58), and the
brown, triangular fruit is surrounded by fruiting sepals,
which have entire or only slightly toothed margins.
Flowering is continued longer than in the last species,
namely, from June to October. In connection with
arable land it is
important to note the appearance of
the seedling Dock (Fig. 59).
Several other species (R. pratensis L., R. sanguineus
L., and, in damp grass land, R. aquaticus L.) may prove
harmful and a nuisance both on arable and grass land.
Docks are common to almost all soils, and are not
easily got rid of.
They are
unfortunately able to
produce adventitious buds on almost any part of the
root which may be severed from the crown hence if ;
204 COMMON WEEDS
the flowering stem and crown be removed the part
remaining in the soil will quickly give rise to a new
stem, while the part removed may, if left lying on the
ground, and produce flowers and seed. The seeds
live
are toocommonly found in grass and clover seed
1
samples; and Mr. Martin ]. Sutton says that "com-
paratively few samples of clover harvested in this
country are entirely free from Dock seed, but it is
trueeconomy to ensure a pure sample."
Wherever Docks occur in grass land they should be
removed with the docking iron when the ground is soft,
although the fleshy roots are so deeply seated that it is
nearly impossible to lift them completely. They may
also be reduced by regular spudding every time they
show signs of renewed vitality the operation should
;
URTICACE.E
The Great (Stinging) Nettle (Urtica dioica L.) is
frequently a serious pest in certain parts of grass fields,
but usually only in
patches. It is
hairy a
perennial, 2 to 4 feet or
more in height, with
large, heart-shaped ser-
rated and pointed leaves
placed opposite one
another in pairs on the
stem, and covered with
stinging hairs. The
flowers are borne in long
clusters or panicles (Fig.
CANNABACE.E
Wild Hop (Humulus Lupulus L.) is a perennial
which occurs in many parts of the country in hedges
and bushy places, and may occasionally cause harm
by climbing among corn crops or grass laid up for
mowing. The stems and leaves are rough, with strong
hooked hairs which enable the plant to cling to a
support, thus aiding the climbing or twining habit.
The seeds are easily distributed by the wind in autumn,
and young plants appear in the next spring. Although
the Hop appears to be indigenous in Britain, many of
the so-called Wild Hops are probably escapes from
cultivation.
Where the Hop is found to be a nuisance much may
be done to prevent trouble in the future by regular
trimming of hedgerows and ditches, so cutting off the
plants at the base and preventing seeding.
OKCHIDACE^:
The Purple Orchis (Orchis masmla L.) and the
Spotted Orchis (O. maculata L.) are frequently very
plentiful in grass land.
The Purple Orchis is a foot or more in height, has
elliptic-lanceolate leaves usually spotted with purple-
black, and somewhat spotted reddish-purple flowers
in lax spikes ;
the tubers are ovoid.
The Spotted Orchis is also about a foot high, and
the leaves are narrow oblong-lanceolate, and generally
IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS LAND 209
bear a number
of dark squarish spots. The flowers
are purple marked with dark lines and spots,
pale
and in dense, somewhat pyramidal, spikes the tuber ;
LILIACE.E
JUNCACE^:
The Common Rushes, Juncus effusus L., J. glaucus
Sibth., /. conglomerates L., and some other species, are
very plentiful in water meadows, damp meadows by
streams and rivers, and similar situations. They are
in general perennial plants, with an extensive and
deep-seated creeping rootstock, erect, simple, pointed
stems containing pith, and leaves which may be slender
and flat or round, resembling the stem. The flowers
are brownish or green, somewhat star-like, and in
creeping rootstock ;
it
grows from 4 to 12 inches
high, and has flat, hairy, grass-like leaves the long
whitish hairs being very prominent and dense clusters
of small pale or dark star-like" flowers.
Where very plentiful, a general improvement in the
herbage by manuring, or by drainage in the case of Z..
multiflora, is necessary to check Wood Rushes.
CYPERACE^:
Common Cotton Grass (Eriophorum anguslifolium
Roth.) and Hare's-tail Cotton Grass (E. vaginatum L.)
are perennial plants common on moors, bogs, and
water meadows, being sometimes troublesome in the
last-named position. The former species is about
i foot high, and has solitary solid stems and terminal
GRAMINE^:
A large number of grasses must be regarded as
weeds, many of them, such as Couch, Fine Bent, and
Wild Oat, being directly troublesome in arable farm-
ing ;
while a large number are worthless members of
meadows and pastures, replacing better herbage, and
being avoided by stock when richer, more succulent
Photo, 1909. /. C. V'arty -Smith.
FIG. 64. Common Sedge (Carex vulgaris Fries.).
2l6 COMMON WEEDS
food is available. All
such useless or harmful
grasses should, where
possible, be reduced, and
an effort made to im-
prove pastures and
meadows, so that they
yield the maximum of
good herbage.
Mat- weed (Nardus
strida L.), also known
as Mat-grass, is a small
perennial only a few
inches high, with densely
tufted slender leaves and
creeping rootstock, an
erect wiry stem and
solitary spikes, with all
the spikelets on one side
(Fig. 65). Flowering
occurs in June and July.
This grass is common
upon heaths and dry
upland pastures, and on
account of its hard, wiry
character is refused by
sheep.
Floating Foxtail (Alo-
pecurus geniculatiis L.) is
occasionally trouble-
some on damp and wet
meadows and in ditches
FIG. 65. Mat-grass (Nardus stricta L.), and ponds, growing so
nat. size, with enlarged spikelet.
long the spikelets are very small, and when the seeds
;
FILICES
Jour. Bd. Agric., Oct. 1908, p. 487. (See also Jour. Board of Agric.,
1
Oct. 1908, p. 481 ; and P'eb. 1909, p. 844; M'K. in The Scottish Farmer,
Nov. 14, 1908; Report of a Lecture by Mr. A P. M'Dougall, ibid., Dec. 12,
1908, and subsequent correspondence ; J. S. in The Field, Nov. 16, 1907.)
IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS LAND 229
arable and grass land, flourishing most on damp land.
The spore-bearing or fructifying stout stems, with club-
shaped heads, resembling young asparagus, appear in
April. These are followed from May onwards by erect
or decumbent barren leafy stems (Fig. 71), with simple
branches in whorls, and ending in a long, naked point.
Horse-tail has extensively creeping, deep-lying rhizomes,
often lying several feet below the surface, quite out
of reach of plough, cultivator, or spade. The plant
is refused by stock. Another species, E. palustre L., is
regarded as being poisonous to cattle. As Horse-tail
favours damp soils, it can only be reduced completely
by draining. Ditches should be kept clean and clear of
weeds to allow of the free passage of water, and the land
should be limed. (See also p. 136.) Both spore-bear-
ing and barren stems should be regularly cut.
Musci
Mosses (Hypmim, Funaria, Sphagnum, &c.) are fre-
quently troublesome in pastures, and are an indication
that the land is damp or in poor condition. The general
methods recommended for the eradication of Mosses
are: (i) drainage, followed by (2) manurial treat-
ment, including an application of lime. Before manures
are applied it is advisable to pass the harrows over the
ground, so as to tear out much of the Moss and loosen
the surface soil and open it up to air, light, moisture,
and manures. Mossy pastures on heavy clay land
should receive 10 cwt. of lime per acre and 6 cwt. of basic
slag, both applied in autumn, and in the following spring
a dressing of i cwt. nitrate of soda per acre in April
or May. Lighter lands maybe given 10 cwt. lime and
2\ cwt. of kainit per acre in autumn, 3 to 5 cwt. good
superphosphate in March, and i cwt. nitrate of soda in
the middle of April. Combined with drainage and the
230 COMMON WEEDS
use of the harrow, such treatment will effect a great
change and get rid of most of the Moss.
Where Moss appears on pastures and meadows which
are known to be well drained, manurial treatment alone
should be resorted to. In the case of temporary pas-
tures, subsoiling will prove a useful measure when the
next arable crop is taken. Moss seldom appears on
arable land, but if so, similar remedial measures must
be followed.
On thin pastures resting on a light loam, with chalk
not many inches below, at the South-Eastern Agricul-
tural College, Wye, Kent, a dense growth of Moss
appeared in winter, though there was no sourness,
deficient aeration, or great poverty of the soil. Experi-
ments made 1 to discover the best treatment showed that
in thiscase chemical treatment had on the whole little
or no effect, though superphosphate seemed to feed the
grass a little and keep the Moss down. On the other
hand, "the effects of the mechanical treatment are,
however, very manifest the continual rolling has been
;
.3, i os. per acre in the five years, while the effects of
the manures were evidently not yet exhausted. At the
same time it must be remembered that thirty-two weeks
of the year were not considered, the experiment being
confined to twenty weeks in the summer months, and
this fact makes the result the more important.
FUNGI
Couch or Twitch i
Charlock and Runch
. ...
. . .
.
.
.
.
32
28
Docks . . . . . . ... . 16
Thistles . 16
Coltsfoot 13
Chickweed 9
Bindweeds 8
Spurrey 7
Poppies and Corn Buttercup ("Burrs" or^\ ,A
each 6
"Scratch Burrs") )
Wild Oat 5
Knotweed and Fat Hen . each 4
. .
Redshank 3
Groundsel, Fumitory, Corn Marigold, A /ofle-\ ^^
curus agrestis, Poa attnua, and Nettles )
Self-heal,Herb Gerard, Hemp Nettle^
Wild Mint, Mayweed, Cleavers, Horse-
tail, Speedwell, Broom-rape, Dodder,
Pepperwort, Wild Carrot, Yellow Toad- each i
Thistles 22
Buttercups .
...
. . . 16
9
8
Daisy
Plantain
Soft Brome
........ 7
6
6
Yellow Rattle, Sorrels, Dandelion, Agrostis \
,
C
sp- 1
1
Including Triticum repens, Agrostis sp., and Arrhenatherum avenacewn,
var. bulbosum, as these are all termed Twitch, Wicks, Wickens, Couch, &c.
Two of these species are, however, given in some returns, and these are
included in the figures quoted.
234 COMMON WEEDS
Sweet Vernal,Rough-stalked Meadow-
grass,Mouse-ear Chickweed, Couch,
Ox-eye Daisy, Pig-nut (Conopodium\
Cow Parsley (Petroselinum}, Meadow each i
Barley-grass, Cat's-ear, Corn Marigold,
Stinking Mayweed, Wild Carrot, Cow-
slip, Broom, Gorse, Dyer's Green-weed,
Silver- weed.
ill
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243
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255
CHAPTER VII
PARASITIC PLANTS
A considerable number of weeds are parasitic or semi-
wholly or in part upon
parasitic in character, subsisting
the food material elaborated by the " host
"
plant for
its own use. One or two of these parasites are serious
pests, and frequently do much damage.
CONVOLVULACE.E
R
258 COMMON WEEDS
The seeds of Dodder (Plate II., Figs. 51 and 52) are in
general quite small, roundish, and angled. Being, with
one or two exceptions, much smaller than the seeds of
red clover, they are easily separated by seed-cleaning
machinery. Although Dodder seeds may be recognised
as such by the farmer, the species can only be identified
4. A somewhat
similar plan is suggested by Frank :
1
Prak, Blatter fur Pftanzenbau und Pflanzenschutz, April, 1908.
*
Agric. Jour, of the Cape of Good Hope, February, 1908.
PARASITIC PLANTS 263
OROBANCHACE^:
The only weeds in this order are those of the genus
Orobanche, known as the
Broom-rapes, or robbers of
Broom, from two Greek words
meaning a vetch and to strangle,
the vetch probably being re-
placed by Broom, which is
commonly infested. The
Broom-rapes, of which there
are about one hundred species,
are not so harmful as Dodder,
but they may sometimes be
very troublesome, especially
on warm, dry, light soils.
Broom-rapes are annual,
leafless, brownish root-para-
sites, containing no chloro-
or white flowers.
Several other species of Broom-rape are found in
Britain, but are of little agricultural importance.
The seeds of Broom-rapes are very minute, almost
dust-like, and are produced in large numbers in two-
valved capsules, and it has been stated that ten million
seeds weigh i gram. Sorauer quotes Wentz as having
seen 70 to 90 seed-capsules, containing on an average
1500 seeds, , on a single plant! These minute, light
PARASITIC PLANTS 265
seeds are readily scattered by the wind, but are easily
separated from clover seed samples.
The life history of Broom-rape is interesting, for the
seeds only germinate on coming into contact with the
roots of a host plant, and some species are parasitic on
but one host, while others attack a number of plants.
In the case of O. minor the seedling on germination
is thread-like, and somewhat resembles that of Dodder.
It attaches itself to the roots of its host by means of a
1
Fliigblatt Nr. j", Schweizerische Samen-Untei sucklings- und Versitchs-
anstalt Zurich.
266 COMMON WEEDS
he observed " the bad effects of sowing impure samples
(of clover seed) purchased without guarantee." the On
other hand, in the Swiss Leaflet already quoted, it is stated
" Because
that, foreign red clover is often badly infested
with Broom-rape, one now and then hears the opinion
expressed that the latter is introduced with foreign
clover seed. This is not so. In the many thousand
clover seed samples which have already been examined,
the seeds of Broom-rape have never been found. This
is easily understood. Broom-rape ripens its seeds
much earlier than red clover. By the time the clover
is harvested for seed the last of the parasite has dis-
tributed all its seed. And even if it did
get into the
clover seed,it would, on account of its small size, be
flour.
Yellow Rattle is
usually regarded as a weed of poor
1
Rev. Professor G. Henslow, Poisonous Plants in Field and Garden.
270 COMMON WEEDS
meadow land, well managed pastures being seldom in-
fested. Mr. ]. P. Sheldon wrote in ^oy 1 "that an
abundant growth of this weed appears to be promoted
by a prevalent low temperature in the period when
grass in meadow is or ought to be a little past the
In a warm and
'
It is a very variable
plant, and some forms are met with on damp peaty
ground. The stems are thin and wiry, from i to 6
1
North British Agriculturist, October, 1897.
272 COMMON WEEDS
inches high, often branched, and bear small sessile,
ovate, or lanceolate leaves with crenate or coarsely
serrate margins.
The flowers are tubular, two-lipped, and white or
lilac with purple veins, the lower lip being yellow ;
they grow singly in the axils of the leaves, and are open
from June to August.
Red Bartsia (Bartsia Odontites Huds., or Euphrasia
Odontites L.) is a frequent weed in fields and waste
open.
LORANTHACE/E
Mistletoe (Viscum album L.) This familiar ever-
green parasite capable of attacking a great variety of
is
POISONOUS PLANTS 1
RANUNCULACE^:
Monkshood (Aconitum Napellus L.) is not commonly
found otherwise than in gardens, but occurs in the
wild state in shady places near streams in Wales
1
The symptoms of poisoning by the various plants and the antidotes or
remedial measures are not in general given. For information on these points
reference must be made to medical or veterinary works, and to the works by
Cornevin, Henslow, and Smith. (See Bibliography.)
276
\
September.
Although the whole plant (Fig. 77) is very poisonous,
its virulence depends to some extent upon the age of the
plants.
Wood Anemone (Anemone nemorosa L.), the common
Anemone of woods and copses, is sometimes present
in meadows. It is a very acrid perennial herb, which
used in medicine.
Hellebore (Helleborus fcetidus L. and H. viridis L.)
are by no means common plants, but the former,
Stinking Hellebore, so called on account of its fetid
odour, occurs in thickets and on chalk pastures in
some southern and eastern English counties while ;
POISONOUS PLANTS 281
PAPAVERACE^
The Common Poppies (Papaver sp.), which are dealt
with from another standpoint at p. 53, are actively
toxic or narcotic, the worst species being P. somniferum
L. (the Opium Poppy). The common red Poppy
(P. Rhceas L.) is stated by Cornevin to be poisonous
in all its parts, and sufficiently so to occasion accidents
every year. The toxic principle consists of the alka-
loids Morphine and Rhceadine. Poisoning of domestic
282 COMMON WEEDS
animals may occur if
they are fed with clovers or
sainfoin which are infested with Poppies, and also when
they ingest the capsules and seeds with other waste
matter from the winnowing or grading of cereals.
Cattle have been occasionally injured by eating unripe
Poppy-heads when the plant was mixed with clover
and sainfoin (Henslow). In the open, however, farm
animals are usually safe where Poppies abound, as the
unpleasant odour and taste of the plants render them
obnoxious.
Cornevin remarks that cattle poisoned by P. Rhceas
exhibit at first symptoms of excitement, shown by
continual movement, by pawing of the soil or litter,
by increased respiration and a more rapid pulse. This
is followed by stoppage of the digestive functions, and
CRUCIFER^:
CARYOPHYLLACE^E
Corn Cockle (Agrostemma Githago L.) is a common
plant of cornfields, covered with white hairs, and
attaining 3 or 4 feet in height. It is tall and erect,
with straight, narrow lanceolate leaves up to 5 inches
long placed opposite one another on the stem in pairs.
The flowers (Fig. 78) are borne singly on long stalks
which spring from the axils of the leaves. They are
284 COMMON WEEDS
1 1 to 2 inches in diameter, with five pale
purple or
violet-red petals, and appear in June, July, and August.
The five green sepals are much longer and narrower
than the petals. The seed capsule is large, and con-
tains twenty or thirty rough black seeds, which are
nearly the size of grains of wheat, and for this reason
Calf . . .
.25 Ib. \
' ' * 10 "
P*>
I per 100 Ib. live weight.
"
Fowl . . .
.25 J
fattening pigs.
In 1893 a number of pigs died in Germany when
fed on coarsely ground rye tailings containing 6 per
cent of Cockle, symptoms of acute poisoning being
observed. Forty work-horses, however, were un-
injured when given 3^ Ib. of similar tailings.
1
In
another case cows were supposed to have been
five
2
poisoned by Cockle and in still another to exert a
;
3
poisonous action on pigs (I9O4-5). Experiments con-
ducted in 1903-4 showed that Corn Cockle exerted a
more favourable than unfavourable influence on the
total yield ofmilk of cows, but a very unfavourable
influence on the quality of butter. 4 About the same
time 4 experiments with cows, sheep, pigs, and goats
indicated that in the amounts usually found in feed-
ing stuffs, Corn Cockle has no poisonous influence on
domestic animals.
About 1892 Nevinny concluded 5 that 6 grams of
Cockle seed consumed in 1200 grams of bread were
beyond doubt poisonous in effect, and that the sale
of grain or flour containing it should be forbidden.
Robert also thought that the sale of feeding stuffs con-
taining the seeds of Corn Cockle should be prohibited
Pesch, who made an extensive study of the
6
by law.
concluded 7
as follows " Under certain con-
question, :
1
Poisonous Plants of all Countries, 1905.
2
Die Hittermittel des Handels, 1906.
3
Farmers' Bull., No. 86, U.S. Dept. Agric.
288 COMMON WEEDS
When Corn Cockle occurs in cornfields it should be
eradicated, and strenuous attempts made to prevent it
reaching the seeding stage. Pure seed corn should
always be used.
CELASTRACE^:
dye.
LEGUMINOS.E
Indian Tares. Various species of Lathyrus met
with in Spain, Italy, Africa, and other parts of the
world are poisonous, and not unfrequently lead to fatal
results when consumed by animals. In 1894 several
horses belonging to the Bristol Tramways Company
were poisoned by eating so-called Indian Peas (the
seeds of Lathyrus sativus), and other injurious effects
upon farm stock are recorded after eating cakes and
meals containing these seeds. The British species,
L. Aphaca L. (Yellow Vetchling), has caused violent
headaches and vomiting in the case of persons who
have eaten the seeds. This plant occurs in corn-
fields from the Midland counties southwards, and
flowers in June and July. It grows to a height of
i to 3 feet, and bears large leaf-like stipules and long
tendrils. The
pale yellow flowers are produced singly
at the nodes. "
[See also Lathyrus Poisoning," Veteri-
nary Journal, 1885 and 1886; " Leguminous Plant
Poisoning," Jour. Bot. Soc. Edin. Dec., 1894, by Dr.
y
R. S. MacDougall.]
Lupins (Lupinus sp.) are not much cultivated in this
country on the farm, but various kinds are well known
in garden cultivation, where they are
highly valued for
T
290 COMMON WEEDS
ornamental purposes. Some species are valuable
forage crops, and useful for reclaiming sandy soils,
being usually ploughed in or folded with sheep. Of
these the Yellow Lupin (L. luteus L.) and Blue Lupin
(L. angustifolius L.)
are grown most extensively. The
Yellow Lupin has caused much trouble on the Con-
tinent, especially in Germany. Cornevin states that in
1880 no less than 14,138 out of 240,000 sheep fed
upon it, or 5.89 per cent, died after suffering from a
"
complaint termed Lupinose." Sheep were chiefly
affected, because it was to this class of stock that the
ROSACES
The Cherry Laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L.), so com-
mon shrubberies, has caused numerous accidents
in
both to man and the domestic animals on the Con-
tinent, and Gerlach (vide Cornevin) cited a case of the
poisoning of twenty-five sheep. The crushed leaves are
used by entomologists for killing insects. Its toxicity
UMBELLIFER.E
Several members of this order may be exceedingly
harmful either to man or to domestic animals.
Hemlock (Conium maculatum L.), illustrated in Fig.
8 1, a plant which may attain to 5 feet or more. It has
a hollow, smooth stem, somewhat glaucous, and more
or less thickly dotted with purplish spots. The leaves
are large and compound, and the segments are deeply
cut, as in most plants of the order. Hemlock grows on
banks, near hedges, and by roadsides and streams, and
in Yorkshire is found at an altitude of 1000 feet. It is
ERICACE^
Rhododendrons and Azaleas are both poisonous in
character, some kinds especially so. Cornevin says
that all species of Rhododendron are suspected, but
mentions in particular R. ferrugineum L., R. hirsutum L.,
R. Chrysanthemum L., and R. ponticum L. Both English
and Belgian veterinary surgeons have published records
of poisoning of sheep and goats due to R. pontt'cum,
and Cornevin remarks that farmers will be well advised
to ensure that this plant be always kept out of the
reach of ruminants.
Of the Azaleas, Cornevin takes as a type A. pontica,
which he says is a very poisonous plant.
BORAGINE^E
Hound's Tongue (Cynoglossum officinale L.) is the only
member of the order Boragineae which need be men-
tioned here. It is found in fields and waste places in
(Hooker). It is a
simple vegetable irritant, causing
nausea and purging (Smith), and should be avoided.
SOLANACE.E
no doubt that it is
poisonous both to
man and to farm
live stock. Al-
though stock rarely
touch the plant it is
occasionally taken,
and may prove
harmful. A case is
FIG. 87. Thorn Apple (Datura Stramonium L.), showing tubular flower,
thorny capsule (centre), and root (cut off and crossed behind the stem). The
holes in some of the leaves are due to grubs.
SCROPHULARIACE.E
The Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L.) is such a well-
known denizen of our copses, woods, banks, and road-
sides, that a description is almost unnecessary. It
POLYGONACE.E
THYMELACE^:
The Spurge Laurel (Daphne Laureola L.) is an ever-
green shrub, found in copses and banks in stiff soil
from York and Durham southwards. It bears black
EUPHORBIACE.E
This order contains a number of very poisonous
plants ;
of these five may be noticed here.
Dog's Mercury (Mercurialis perennis L.) is a weed of
woods, hedges, and shady places, and is found as far
north as the Highlands. It is a hairy plant 6 inches
CONIFERS
The Yew (Taxus baccata L.) is one of our most
poisonous plants, but although the wood, bark, leaves,
and seeds are all injurious, the scarlet
mucilaginous
cup enveloping the ripe seed may be eaten with
impunity. The old leaves and shoots are the most
poisonous parts, and as they have no noxious flavour,
cattle and horses readily eat them. Trimmings which
have been carelessly thrown down have also poisoned
animals which have eaten them. Stock are perhaps
more easily tempted to browse on the dark green foliage
in winter, when they get more dry food than usual.
Cow. . . . i.o ,,
Sheep . . . i.o ,,
Goat . . . . 1.2
Rabbit . ./ . . 2.0
AMENTACE^:
The Oak (Quercus sp.). The ingestion of acorns has
frequently caused serious losses among young cattle up
to two years old, as in 1808, 1870, 1884, anc*
1900.
Cattle over three years old were seldom affected, while
314 COMMON WEEDS
sheep and pigs did not appear to be susceptible to the
poisonous property of the acorns. Acorn poisoning is
not properly understood, but it is quite distinct from
indigestion due to eating an excessive quantity of
acorns. As the acorns are most likely to be eaten
in long, dry, and hot summers, when herbage on the
AROIDE^E
Lords and Ladies, or Cuckoo Pint (Arum maculatum
L.), is one of the best known plants of the countryside,
318 COMMON WEEDS
being commonly present in woods, hedge banks, and
along the sides of ditches. It is a great favourite of
GRAMINE^E
FUNGI ASCOMYCETES
" Want
ye corn for bread ?
'Twas full of darnel Do you like the taste ? "
:
deepest parts.
In the surface water all over the pond, down to a
depth of 8 or 9 feet, there are often present a vast
number of Diatoms, Desmids, and other very minute
Algae, forming the plankton or free floating vegetation.
324 COMMON WEEDS
The following are some of the more important weeds
of ditches, ponds, and streams :
RANUNCULACE^E
Water Crowfoot. Under this name may be grouped
a numberof aquatic Rammculi, which from a botanical
HALORAGE^:
Mare's Tail (Hippuris vulgaris L.) is a common
aquatic perennial at the
edges of ponds and slow-
moving streams. It has a
stout creeping rootstock, and
erect round stems about
to J of an inch in dia-
meter (Fig. 92). The leaves
are very narrow/ about an
inch long, and arranged in
whorls six to twelve to-
gether at each of the many
joints.
The flowers are green,
very small, with no petals,
and only one stamen.
Water Starwort (Calli-
triche vema L.) is a very
variable species, abundantly
FIG.
i>. 92. LeftWater
J-,en : Starwort
vvaieroiarwomoa^z- .
/
triche verna L.), x |. Right: distributed 111 the Water of
Mare's Tail (Hippuris vulgarisL.),
x i, with fruit enlarged.
nnnr B rUtrhpc
i
ponds, QltCneS, onH SlOW
and clnw
streams throughout the
country, and often found growing on mud by the side
of ponds. Watercress growers frequently complain of
WEEDS OF PONDS, RIVERS, DITCHES 327
it as a pest.The typical form (Fig. 92) has delicate
submerged round stems the leaves are opposite those
; ;
white flowers.
In speaking of thedamage by water-weeds to boat-
ing and angling in the Scotch lakes, Sir Herbert
Maxwell says * he would prefer to contend with the
troublesome pest Elodea (see p. 332) than with Myrio-
" "
phyllum. The latter is rampant every year after mid-
summer; Elodea only once in six or seven seasons.
1
Scotsman, Oct. 7, 1897.
328 COMMON WEEDS
Myriophyllum verticillatum L. (Fig. 93) is another
common species of Water Milfoil very closely resembling
the one already mentioned, but with stronger stems
and more leaves in a whorl. The flowering spike is
erect when in bud, that of M. alterniflorum being
curved at the tip.
UMBELLIFER.E
VALERIANACE.E
LABIATE
POLYGONACEJi
Great Water-dock (Rumex Hydrolapathum Huds.)isa
widely distributed and characteristic river-side plant, and
the largest of the British
Docks. The stems are
stout, branched, and 3
to 5 feet high, with
oblong-lanceolate leaves,
which are cordate at the
base, and sometimes
more than a foot long.
The flowering panicle is
leafless, with crowded
whorls of flowers.
CERATOPHYLLACE^:
Hornwort (Cerato-
phyllum demersum L.) is
a locally distributed
aquatic plant, com-
pletely submerged in
the water of ponds and
ditches. It possesses
long slender stems and
leaves in whorls (Fig. FIG. 94. Hornwort (Ceratophyllum
demersum L.), x.
94). The leaves are
usually dark green, much divided into narrow, toothed
segments, and about an inch long. The flowers are
332 COMMON WEEDS
small and monoecious, with many stamens, and one-
celled ovary.
HYDROCHARIDACE^E
IRIDACE^E
capsules.
TYPHACE.E
Bur-reed (Sparganium ramosum Huds.) is a fre-
LEMNACE^:
Duckweed (Lemna minor L.).
This is a familiar
palish green minute plant which is often seen com-
pletely covering
the surface of
small ponds. It
is abundant in
ditches and back-
waters of many
rivers and streams,
and is trouble-
some in watercress
beds. Each plant
FIG. 96. Lesser Duckweed (Lemna minor L.),
nat size. on the water,
floats
and consists of one
"
or two flattened scale-like " fronds an eighth of an inch
or so in diameter (Fig. 96). From the under part a
delicate root about J to i inch long dips into the
water. Very minute unisexual flowers arise on the
"
fronds," and these produce seeds which propagate
the plant. Multiplication, however, goes on most
rapidly by vegetative budding off of young fronds,
which become disconnected from the parent and then
carry on an independent life, the process being repeated.
WEEDS OF PONDS, RIVERS, DITCHES 335
Another larger species
(L. trisulca L.), with fronds
\ to | of an inch across,
the young ones of which
grow out at right angles
to the older ones, is com-
mon also in many places
on stagnant water.
A less frequent species
is L. polyrhiza L., with
several roots to each
plant, instead of one.
ALISMACE^:
lower female.
NAIADACE^:
CYPERACE^:
This order includes a large number of species of
plants, many of which are common inhabitants of river-
banks, lakes, ditches, and marshy places, and usually
spoken of as Rushes and Sedges. One or two only need
be mentioned here.
Bulrush, Club-rush (Scirpus lacustris L.) is often met
with in shallow water on the edges of ponds and slow-
moving streams. It has an extensive creeping root-
stock, tall green stems, usually leafless, 4 to 6 feet high,
and \ to | of an inch thick, with a spongy interior.
Occasionally in running water flat floating leaves are
WEEDS OF PONDS, RIVERS, DITCHES 339
present. The inflorescences are terminal, reddish-
brown clusters or cymes.
S. TaberncemontaniGmzl. is a sub-species of the above,
with glaucous stems.
Sedges. -Many of these plants are found in marshes
and ditches and on the margins of ponds and rivers.
They much resemble grasses in general appearance, but
the stems are usually triangular in section, and the
leaf-sheaths are entire, not split, as in most grasses.
The flowers are unisexual and in spikes the male
;
GRAMINE.E
The Reed (Phragmites communis Trin.) is a grass
which occurs in shallow water at the edges of lakes and
streams and in ditches throughout the country. It is
CHARACE^E
Various species of
Stoneworts (Cham and
Nitelld) are lowly bo-
tanical forms with a
complicated floral
They may
structure.
have simple or
branched stems up to
i foot long, according
to species. Cylindrical
FIG. Stonewort (Chara vulgaris L.), nat. size,
j.
FIG. ioo. Hand-power Machine for fixing to Boats or Punts, which may be
rowed by oars or towed from the bank by ropes. The cutting is performed
by the V-shaped scolloped saws suspended from an oscillating hinged arm.
A similar V-shaped weed-cutter on a long handle is useful for hand work
from the bank, boat or punt. (Saunderson, Bedford.)
"
The seeds of most sorts of weeds are so hardy, as to lie sound and uncor-
rupt for many years, or perhaps ages, in the earth ; and are not killed until
they begin to grow or sprout, which very few of them do unless the land be
ploughed, and then enough of them will ripen amongst the sown crop to
propagate and continue their species, by shedding their offspring in the
ground (for it is observed they are generally ripe before the corn), and the
seeds of these do the same in the next sown crop ; and thus perpetuate their
savage, wicked brood, from generation to generation."
J ET H R o T u LL The Horse Hoeing Husbandry, 1731.
,
CHAPTER X
WEEDS IN LAWNS, DRIVES, ETC.
WEEDS IN LAWNS
Lawns are unfortunately often much disfigured by
Plantains, Daisies, Dandelions, and occasionally even
with fungus ft fairy rings." Lawns, bowling-greens,
and cricket pitches, which are weed infested, may be
much improved by dressing them in spring with some
rich, fine soil, in which a small amount of sulphate of
ammonia has been mixed in quantity sufficient to give
about i Ib. to the square rod. This plan tends to the
growth of the finer grasses, and helps to suppress weeds
and clovers.
Lawn Sands. Weedy lawns may be improved by
" lawn sands."
the application of what are termed
These consist chiefly of dry fine sand and sulphate
of ammonia, and have a magical effect in clearing
lawns of Plantains and Daisies. An application of
345
346 COMMON WEEDS
sulphate of ammonia (|-i oz. per square yard) mixed
with fine dry soil acts in a similar manner, and may
with advantage be evenly applied once a month from
April to July.
Removing Weeds by Hand. A common plan of
ridding lawns of Plantains, Daisies, &c., is to go over
the whole plot carefully and remove them bodily by
means of a knife or spud. They should not be merely
cut off below the surface, as many weeds so treated
will only sprout afresh. Patent weed extractors may
be obtained to remove lawn weeds quickly and well.
Poisoning" of Lawn Weeds. Other methods for
killing weeds in lawns consist in the use of salt and
acids. A small thimbleful of salt or a pinch of sulphate
of ammonia placed on the crown of a Daisy, Plantain,
or other broad-leaved weed in the lawn will destroy it ;
that t(
One remedy is a dressing of 2 tons of slaked
stone lime per acre. Another is basic slag, at the rate
1 2
Card. Chron., June 19, 1909. Lawns, p. 36.
348 COMMON WEEDS
of i ton per acre. This is rather slower in its action
than lime, and in many cases it will be considered
objectionable, because it encourages the growth of
clovers. The dressing may be necessary for two
consecutive years. Spring is the best time, especially
when showery weather prevails."
The following note is of considerable interest :
'
Fairy
Rings may be destroyed on grass land. It may be
remarked that in Dr. Gilbert's experience Fairy Rings
grow chiefly on impoverished soil. Infested grass land
therefore, which is at all poor in character, should be
liberally manured, and when the grasses have become
more vigorous the Fairy Rings will probably disappear.
In the case of lawns and special grass plots i ton of
slaked lime might be applied in winter, 3 to 4 cwt. of
superphosphate, 3 cwt. kainit, and J cwt. nitrate of
soda in early spring, and i to 2 cwt. superphosphate
and i cwt. nitrate of soda in late spring all per acre.
For pastures, 4 cwt. superphosphate and 2 cwt. kainit
may be applied in early spring, and J cwt. nitrate of
1
soda early in April."
In case of lawns on soils containing lime or
the
of adamp character, sulphate of ammonia may be
substituted for the nitrate of soda with advantage.
Mr. G. H. Robinson (Assistant Vegetable Pathologist,
Victoria) found that the fairy ring puff-ball Lycoperdon
polymorphum Vitt. could be eradicated by watering with
a solution of sulphate of iron. In his experiments 2
an infested bowling-green was divided into plots of
60 square yards, 8 Ib. of sulphate of iron in 30
gallons of water being put on that area with zinc
watering-cans. The green was well watered over
Jour. Bd. Agric., August 1907, p. 296.
1
in i
gallon of boiling water the paraffin should be
added and the mixture thoroughly churned until a
creamy emulsion is obtained. The caustic soda should
then be dissolved in the remaining 27 gallons of water
1
Journal of Horticultiire, October 4, 1906.
2
Jbid,, December 12, 1907.
352 COMMON WEEDS
and poured into the soft soap and paraffin emulsion.
After a thorough churning the mixture should be
applied to the trees at once by means of a spraying
machine. Such a mixture as this effectively removes
the Moss and Lichen from the bark of trees. It should
"
Although the credit of starting the first Seed-
testing Station must be given to Nobbe, measures had
been taken as long ago as 1816 in Switzerland to
suppress fraud in the seed trade. Thus an inspector
had the right of entry into a seed shop or warehouse
for inspection of the seeds on sale, punishment follow-
'
'
seeds means to apply to seeds any process of colour-
" In addition to a
guarantee of purity, a high per-
centage of germination should be demanded, and the
germinating power of the seeds may usefully be tested
to see whether they come up to the standard named."
1
Verdhandlungen der i. inter national en Konferenz fiir Samenpriifung zu
Hamburg vom 10-14 Sept. 1906, p. 15.
2
Organisation und Ewtwicklung der kaiserl. konigl. Samen- Kontrol
Station in Wien vomjahre 1881 bis inkl. 1906, p. 23.
3
four. R.A S.., 1905, p. 162.
360 COMMON WEEDS
another sample in which 2j per cent was spurious
seed, there were more than 27,600 weed seeds. The
number of weed seeds sown to the acre would be
enormous, and having an equal chance with the crops
among which they grew, might be the cause of con-
l
siderable loss."
5. "The Board also communicated with Mr. D. D.
Williams of the Department of Agriculture, Aberystwyth,
who has acted as seed Analyst to County Councils in
South Wales for several years. In order to make a
thorough investigation, he wrote to a very large number
of his past students for samples of seeds. Half the
amount him was detained and analysed at the
sent
College, and the other half was sent to the Aynsome
Seed-testing Station, Grange-over-Sands, in order to
obtain independent opinion on the samples sent. Mr.
Remington, the head of that institution, reported on the
" 2-
samples of red clover sent as follows
first five :
Number.
PRINCIPLES OF SEED TESTING 361
6000 to 15,000 weed seeds were present in i Ib. of what
was being sold as red clover, and that in samples of
alsike clover as many as 23,556 weed seeds were found
in one case, and 49,830 in another. In the former case
the sample, having only 72 per cent of pure seed, was
priced at $5.25 (
= 2is. lod.) per bushel, or equal to $7.29
(z=3os. 4d.) per bushel for the good red clover seed it
contained. In the latter case the sample priced at
$8.00 (
= 335. 4d.) per bushel, and containing only 48 per
cent of good seed, would really cost $16.66 ( = 693. 5d.)
" These
per bushel for the alsike. (says the Advocate)
are startling figures, and though those quoted may be
extreme cases, all will readily agree that if the average
FlG. 103. Seed-testing Vessel, of porous ware, with cover (perforations in cover
not shown).
PxG_ T
IOO
For example,
if the
purity be 95 per cent and the
germinating capacity 80 per cent, then we have
IOO
In Samples of Clovers
2 A
37 COMMON WEEDS
Farm Seeds
"
Book, 1907).
Waragainst Weeds" (Farmer and Stockbreeder Year- Book, 1908).
Hall, D.
A..
Fertilisers and Manures (1909).
The Book of Rothamsted Experiments (1905).
The 0*7(1908).
"
Harper Adams Agric. College, Joint Report of Field Experiments,"
1908.
"
Harrison, F. C., Weeds of Ontario" (Ontario Agric. College, Bulletin
No. 128, 1906).
Henslow, Prof., Poisonous Plants in Field and Garden, 1901.
Hooker, Sir J. D., Student's Flora of the British Islands.
Horticultural Directory.
"
Howitt, J. Eaton, M.S. A., The Perennial Sow Thistle and some
other Weed Pests of 1908" (Ontario Agric. College, Bulletin
No. 168).
Iowa State College of Agric. Experiment Station, Bulletin 88.
Irish Naturalist, November 1904.
Jackson, B. D., Glossary of Botanic Terms (1900).
Jahrbuch der Deutschen Landivirtschafts-Gesellschaft, 1902.
Johns, Rev. C. A., Flowers of the Field (315! edition, 1905, revised by
Prof. G. S. Boulger).
Johnson, Dr. T., "Principles of Seed Testing" (Science Progress,
January 1907).
Johnson and Sowerby, Useful Plants of Great Britain.
Journal of Agricultural Science, Dec. 1907.
Journal of Agriculture, Victoria, 1907-9.
Journal of the Bath and West and Southern Counties Society (Fifth'
Series, vol. iii., 1908-9).
Journal of the Board of Agriculture, vols. i.-xvi.
"
Journal of the Botanic Society of Edinburgh^ Leguminous Plant
Poisoning," by Dr. R. S. MacDongall, Dec. 1894.
Journal of Horticulture, various issues.
374 BIBLIOGRAPHY
Journal of a Naturalist, 1829.
Journal of the Royal Agric. Society of England, vols. 1855, 1856, 1888,
1890, 1897, 1901-1908.
Journal of the South-Kastern Agric. College, 1900 and 1907.
Karbe, Dr., Bck&mpfung des Unkrauts durch Zweckentsprechende
Fruchtfolge und Ktdtur. 1892.
Kirchner, Dr. O., Die Krankheiten und Beschadigungen unsercr
Landwirtschaftlichen Kulturpflanzen (1906).
Knapp, Journal of a Naturalist, 1829.
Korsmo, Emil, Kampen mod Ugrcesset (1906).
Landvuirtschaftlichesjahrbuch der Schiueiz, 1908, Heft i.
Long, H. C., "Some Troublesome Weeds" (Farm and Home Year-
Book, 1910).
" "
Long, James, Possibilities of British Agriculture under Free Trade
(Co-operative Wholesale Societies' Annual, 1905).
M 'Alpine, A. N., and Wright, R. P., "Weeds and Weeding" (High-
land and Agric. Soc. Trans., 1894).
M'Connell, Primrose
Agricultural Note- Book of Facts and Figures.
Diary of a Working Farmer.
"
MacDougall, Dr. R. ., Leguminous Plant Poisoning" (Jour. Bot.
Soc. Edin., Dec. 1894).
Maier-Bode, Fr., Die der Acker-Unkriiuter (1908).
Bekampfung
Mark Lane Express, sundry issues.
Marre, E., La Lutte contre la Cuscute, 1908.
Massee, Geo., F.L.S., Text-Book of Plant Diseases (1899).
Mitteilungen der Deutschen Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft, sundry
issues.
Morton's Hand- Books of the Farm, No. iii., "The Crops."
Morton's Cyclopaedia of Agriculture, 1856.
Nature, 1895.
Newstead, R., "The Food of some British Birds" (Jour. Bd. Agric.,
Supplement, Dec. 1908).
New Zealand Department of Agriculture, Annual Reports, 1903 and
1904.
Nobbe, Dr. F., Handbuch der Samenkunde (1876).
North Dakota Agric. Experiment Station, Press Bulletin No. 26,
"
Means of Eradicating Dandelions on Parks, Lawns, Roadsides
and Meadows"; Bulletin No. 80, "Weeds, and Methods of
" "
Eradication ;
Weed Control by Means of Chemical Sprays."
Ontario Agricultural College, Bulletins 128 and 168.
Organisation und Entwicklung der k.k. Samen-Kontroll- Station in
Wien, 1881-1906.
"
Parkinson, S. T., and Russell, E. J., A List of Plants Poisonous to
Stock" (Jour, of the South- Eastern Agric. College, 1907).
Percival, J., Agricultural Botany (3rd edition), 1907.
Perseke, Dr. K., Anleitung zur Bekamfung des Unkrautes ( \ 896).
Praktische Blatter fur Pflanzenbau und Pflanz ens chutz, April 1 908.
Royal Agric. Soc. of England Journal, 1855, 1856, 1888, 1890, 1897
1901-1908.
BIBLIOGRAPHY 375
Russell, E. J., and Parkinson, S. T., "A List of Plants Poisonous to
Stock" {Jour, of the South-Eastern Agric. College, 1907).
Saunders, Howard, Manual of British Birds, 1899.
Schultz, Gustav, Ackersenf tind Hederich (Arbeiten der Deutschen
Landwirtschafts-Gesellschaft, Heft 158, 1909).
Schweizerische Samen-Untersuchungs- und Versuchsanstalt Ziitich,
Fliigblatt Nr. 5.
Scotsman, The, Oct. 7, 1897.
Hortus Gramineus Woburnensis (3rd edition, 1826).
Sinclair, G.,F.L.S.,
Smith, A. B., Poisonous Plants of all Countries (1905).
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various volumes, 1790-1807.
"
Smith, W. G., One Hundred Yorkshire Weeds" (Yorkshire College,
Leeds, and the East and West Ridings Joint Agric. Council, No. 12).
Somerville, Dr. W.
"
A Contribution to our Knowledge of the Influence of Manures
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Grass-land" (Jour. Bd. Agric., vol. vii., No. 2).
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Sorauer, Dr. Paul, Pjlanzenkrankheiten.
Standard Cyclopedia of Modern Agriculture, vols. i.-vi.
Stebler and Schroeter, Matten und Weiden der Schweiz.
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7th edition (1906).
Sutton, Martin J., Permanent and Temporary Pastures (6th edition).
Sutton & Sons, Lawns.
Thaer, Dr. A., Die landwirtschaftlichen Unkrauter (1905).
The Times, various issues.
Tidsskr. Norske Landbr., 10 (1903), Nos. 6 and 7.
Transactions of the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland,
Fifth Series, vol.vi., 1894 ("Weeds and Weeding," by A. N.
'
Farmers Bulletin, No. 124, Experiment Station Work," xvii.
Farmers' Bulletin, No. 188, 'Weeds used in Medicine."
Farmers' Bulletin, No. 194, Alfalfa Seed."1
"
Veterinary Journal, Lathyrus Poisoning," 1885 and 1886.
"
Victoria, Dept. of Agr., Illustrated Description of Thistles, &c.,
included within the Provisions of the Thistle Act of 1890."
Victoria, Journal of Agriculture, 1907-9.
Vinton's Hand-Books of the Farm, The Crops.
Wallace, Prof. R., Farm Live Stock of Great Britain, 1907.
Ward, H. Marshall, Grasses (Cambridge Biological Series, 1901).
Watts, Dr. Francis, "The Treatment of Soils in Orchard Cultivation
in the Tropics" (West Indian Bulletin, vol. ii.
p. 96).
West Indian Bulletin, vol. ii. p. 96.
White, Rev. Gilbert, Natural History of Selborne.
Willis, J. C., M.A., Flowering Plants and Ferns (2nd edition, 1904,
Cambridge Biological Series).
Wolff, E., Farm Foods.
Wright, R. P., Manuring of Moss Land (1909), Reprint of a
Lecture.
"
Wright, R. P., and M'Alpine, A. N,, Weeds and Weeding" (High-
land and A gric. Soc. Trans., 1894).
Wrightson, Prof. J., "Weeds and their Eradication" (Paper read
before the Farmers' Club, April 1902).
APPENDICES
APPENDIX I
aI
15
/6
ia
22
382
PLATE III. WEED SEEDS.
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APPENDIX III
UNITED KINGDOM
think that the plaintiff was bound to examine all the boundaries
to see that no tree likely to be injurious to his horse was pro-
CANADA
the Seed Control Act (4
By &
5 Ed. VII., c. 41) the Governor
in Council
may make regulations determining the maximum pro-
portion of the seeds of the weeds mentioned below that may
be tolerated in agriculturaland other seeds without affecting
their character as being freefrom the seeds of the said weeds.
The Act gives powers of entry for inspection and taking of
samples. Its provisions do not, however, apply to persons grow-
(c)
with the common name or names of the weeds named,
the seeds of which are present in the seed sold, offered,
or exposed or had in possession for sale.
414 APPENDIX III
They must also contain not less than 99 per cent of the
seeds represented, or seeds of other useful and harmless grasses
or clovers, of which 99 per cent 90 must be germinable.
No person shall sell, or offer, expose or have in his posses-
sion for sale for the purpose of seeding in Canada, any seeds of
timothy, alsike or red clover, or any mixture containing the said
seeds, if the seeds of the weeds mentioned in the Act are present
in a greater proportion than 5 in 1000 of the seed sold, &c.
destroy noxious
all weeds, and in default is liable to a penalty
not exceeding 100 dollars and costs. Occupiers must clear
the land between the centre of the road and their boundary.
Inspectors are empowered on finding weeds in a grain crop to
notify the owner to cut and burn, or plough under, the whole
or part of the crop, or to fence and burn the straw from such
crop within ten days of thrashing. Railway lands and lands
of irrigation companies must also be cleared. No person is
allowed to sell any grain, grass, clover, or other seed in which
there are seeds of noxious weeds, and such seeds must not be
removed from any premises until the power of germination of
the noxious seeds is destroyed. Cleanings must not be, placed
outside a mill until the power of germination of any noxious
weed seeds has been destroyed. Thrashing-machines must be
thoroughly cleaned before removal, and this provision must be
prominently displayed on each machine.
2 D
418 APPENDIX III
AUSTRALASIA
SOUTH AFRICA
In Cape Colony, Act 40 of 1889 provides that occupiers of
land on which the Bathurst Burr (Xanthium spinosum) exists
shall, after due notice, take steps to eradicate the weed, or
in
default be liable to a penalty. The Act empowers the Governor
APPENDIX III 421
to schedule any other as noxious, and to exempt any river
weed
bed should he see fit. Later Acts (1905 and 1907) give further
powers for the compulsory destruction of noxious weeds. Act
No. 20 of 1907 empowers the Governor to make regulations
dealing with the furnishing of guarantees as to the purity and
germination of any seed purchased, for preventing the sale of
seeds not of the quality guaranteed, for preventing the sale of
killed ordyed seeds, and for providing for the regular analysis
of seeds intended for sale. not incumbent on the vendor
It is
and germination, but the absence
to furnish a guarantee of purity
of such guarantee does not exempt him from prosecution in the
event of killed or dyed seeds being found in the seed sold by
him. Other clauses deal with prosecutions under the Act, and
with penalties in case of contravention of the Act or regulations
made thereunder.
In Natal, Law No. 38 of 1874 renders occupiers of land
upon which the Bathurst Burr (Xanthium spinosum] is found
growing and bearing seed liable to a penalty of not more than
-$. Powers of entry to destroy are given under the Act. Act
No. 20 of 1901 includes two other weeds in the above Act.
In the Orange River Colony, Chapter cxxvi. of the Law Book
orders that every owner, occupier, or user of a farm shall be
bound to exterminate, bury, or burn the weed known as Xanthium
spinosum. The Landdrost has power to do this in default, and to
recover costs. Persons travelling with animals on which seed of
this plant is found are liable to prosecution and penalties. The
Law also applies to the Scotch Thistle, except that on repre-
sentations from twenty-five landowners in a ward its operation
may be withheld,
In the Transvaal, the Minister of Agriculture introduced a
Bill, which received the royal assent on 3oth June 1909, to
make better provision for the eradication of noxious weeds.
Under this term are included Xanthium spinosum, and any
other plant which the Governor may proclaim by notice in the
Gazette, to be a noxious weed either in the whole Colony or
in specified parts. The Governor has power to make regula-
tions compelling the destruction of noxious weeds, and pre-
and the cost thereof recovered from the occupier. The Governor
may also make regulations prohibiting the introduction into the
Colony or the sale of any plant, seed, or grain which is likely to
propagate or to spread the seed of noxious weeds. Failure to
comply with these regulations renders the offender liable to a
fine not exceeding ^50, or in default of payment to six months'
Hoffm.).
The various laws are set forth in extenso in the Bulletin,
but they cannot be referred to individually here.
It will be of interest, however, to indicate by an example
what laws exist as to the inspection of agricultural seeds. In
the State of Iowa it is provided by Law (effective July 4, 1907)
that no person shall sell agricultural seeds containing the seeds
of Wild Mustard or Charlock, Quack Grass (Couch), Canada (or
Creeping) Thistle, Wild Oats, Clover and Lucerne Dodder, Field
1
/
424 APPENDIX III
ARGENTINA
The importation of seeds is regulated by Law No. 4084,
whereby they are subjected to inspection, disinfection, or de-
struction, as the case requires. The Law has been amplified
by decree of August 23, 1902, and it stipulated that all live
is
FRANCE
The Law of June 21, 1898, provides that the Prefects of
Departments shall prescribe such measures as may be necessary
to arrest or prevent damage to agriculture by Cryptogams and
other harmful plants when such damage assumes, or may assume,
an extensive or dangerous character. Regulations are not made
by the Prefect without the sanction of the General Council of
the Department, except in the case of urgent and temporary
measures. He determines when the measures should be put
into execution, the localities to which they shall apply, and
the special means to be employed. The regulation is only
to be carried into effect after the approval of the Minister for
Agriculture has been received. The execution of the regulation
is in the charge of the Mayors.
ITALY
BELGIUM
There are no laws in Belgium with respect to the provision
of pure seeds of good germinating capacity, but the Burgomaster
is required by Art. 50 of the
" Code Rural " to see that the
laws and regulations requiring the destruction of Thistles and
other noxious plants are duly executed. A
Royal Decree
(May 2, 1887) lays down rules for the destruction of these
plants, themeasures for the destruction of Thistles being pre-
scribed by the provincial Governors, and those for other weeds
by the Minister for Agriculture. The destruction of male stalks
of Hops is rendered compulsory by a Ministerial Decree dated
May 3, 1887.
GERMANY
The Government of the German Empire have passed no laws
in connection with the seed trade, neither is the destruction of
weeds rendered compulsory by any Imperial law. Measures
are,however, taken in most of the Federated States against the
spread of certain weeds, e.g. Thistles (Cnicus arvensis), French
Weed (Galinsoga parviflora) Wild Radish (Raphanus], Meadow
,
HUNGARY
The Rural Police Act of 1894 imposes a penalty up to
xii.
200 crowns (^8, on any person who offers for sale any
6s. 8d.)
clover or lucerne seed which is not absolutely free from Dodder.
The result of the passing of this law is that seed merchants
prefer to sell seeds which have been examined and bear the
official seal. This seal is affixed to the package after examina-
tion at a Government Seed-testing Station, of which there are
several in the country. The object of these stations is to
exercise control over the trade in seeds and other vegetable
products, and to protect the interests of farmers against fraud
and adulteration to make experiments as to germination, &c. ;
;
SWITZERLAND
The Government have established a system whereby firms
of seed merchants, on payment of an annual subscription, can
be registered as maisons controlees. Such firms contract to
deliver to their customers a gratuitous certificate which gives
them the right to have their purchases tested at one of the
Government stations free of charge, and they undertake to
indemnify the purchaser should the seeds fall short of their
description. The guarantee furnished by the " controlled firms "
includes the identity, purity, and germinating capacity of the
seeds, together with absence of adulteration and of the seeds of
noxious weeds. With regard to the latter, the firms especially
guarantee a minimum proportion of authentic and pure seeds
APPENDIX III 427
having a minimum germinating capacity; the absence of Dodder
from seeds of leguminous forage plants, and of Flax Dodder
(Cuscuta Epilinum) from the seeds of flax; and by special
arrangement between the parties the absence of the seeds of
other noxious weeds can be guaranteed. The proportion of
Burnet (Poterium Sanguisorba) in sainfoin seed is also guaran-
teed ;
such seed when sold as free from Burnet may be returned
by the purchaser should it contain more than 10 grains of
Burnet per kilogram (2.2 lb.), while the buyer of leguminous seeds
which are found to contain more than 20 grains of Dodder per
kilogram is entitled to an indemnity of 5 per cent on the price.
Similar rules apply to seed found to be adulterated, or to con-
tain seeds of other noxious weeds.
DENMARK
There appear to be no laws in Denmark requiring the destruc-
tion of weeds, but annual grants are made by the State to agri-
cultural societies for the purpose of awarding prizes to members
for weedless fields. Further, the municipal administrations and
the railways are stated to be careful that the roadsides, ditches,
and railway areas are kept free from weeds.
SWEDEN
There is no law in Sweden dealing with the destruction of
weeds, but a Royal Ordinance, dated February 5, 1909, and
taking effect from June i, 1909, provides for the importation
of foreign seeds under certain regulations. The chief point
is that seeds shall, before they are allowed to be imported for
NORWAY
In Norway there appear to be no laws requiring the destruc-
tion of weeds.
NETHERLANDS
There are no laws in the Netherlands requiring the destruc-
tion of weeds. There is, however, a central Government Seed-
testing Station at Wageningen.
SERVIA
Clover seed can only be imported when it has been shown
by expert examination to be pure. Seed grain is inspected
by market committees before sale.
PORTUGAL
No laws requiring the destruction of weeds or the supply of
pure seeds of a suitable germinating capacity are in force in
Portugal.
RUSSIA
There are no laws regarding the destruction of weeds. Seed,
carefully cleaned and sorted, is supplied to agriculturists from
State properties, farms, and institutions, and also from Govern-
ment and " Zemstvo " agricultural stores.
JAPAN
No laws or regulations.
APPENDIX IV
2 E
INDEX
Achillea Millefolitim, 8, 139. 140, 141, Alopecurus genicnlattis, 216, 406
142, 185, 395 pratensis, 39, 217
Acidia heraclei, 1 1 Amenfaceie, 313, 403
Aconite, 5 American Pond weed, 403
Aconitine, 278 Weeder, 34, 55
Acomtum Napelhis, 155, 276, 385 Ammonium salts on grass, 145, 147
Acrid Buttercup, 39, 152, 279, 385 Anacharis Alsinastrttm, 332
Adder's Tongue, 408 Anagallis arvensis, 6, 113, 369, 400
Adulteration of Seeds Acts (1869 and Analyses of weeds, 7
1878), 353, 356, 409 Anchitsa arvensis, 106, 397
^Kgopodium Podagraria, 167, 391 Anemone nemorosa, 280, 384
sEthusa Cynapiiim, 24, 83, 298, 392 Pulsatilla, 384
Agricultural seeds, distribute weed Animals distribute weed seeds, 20
seeds, 20, 353-362 Annual Knawel, 75, 233, 388
value of, reduced by weed seeds, Meadow Grass, 27, 129, 407
1
3' 353 -368 Mercury, 309, 402
Agrimonia Eiipatoria, 165, 391 Sow Thistle, 27, 99, 396
Agrimony, 165 Annuals, 2, 18, 31, 35
Agrostemma Githago, 24, 69, 283, 388 Anthemis, 13, 47
Agrostis^., 128, 139, 149, 151,233 arvensis, 90, 369, 370, 395
alba, 217, 406 Cotula, 90, 395
canina, 12, 2 1 8, 406 Anthriscus sylvestris, 1 68, 369, 370,
Spica-venli 370 392
stolonifera, 39, 128, 142, 218, vulgarts, 39, 168, 392
406 Aphis rumicis, 10, II
vulgaris, 128, 143, 218, 406 Apium immdatum, 328, 392
Aira azspitosa, 39, 220, 406 nodiflorum, 328, 392
caryophyllea, 370 Araliacett, 393
Jlexuosa, 151, 218, 370, 406 Arctium Lappa, 24, 173, 394
Ajtiga reptans, 141, 200, 400 Arenaria serpyllifolia, 71, 369, 370,
Alchemiila arvensis, 80, 390 388
vulgaris, 165, 390 tenuifolia, 71, 388
Alga, 323, 343 Arnut, 391
Alisma Plantago, 335, 403 Aroidete, 317, 405
Alismacecz, 335, 403 Arrhenatherum avenaceum, var. bul-
All-heal, 329, 392 bosum, 131, 233, 407
Alliaria officinalis, 13 Arrow-head, 336, 403
A Ilium sp., 13 Arsenical sheep-dip as weed killer. 350
oleracenm, 126, 404 Arsenite of soda, spraying with, 40,
ursinum, 211, 404 44, 262
vineale, 44, 125, 209, 404 Arum mactdatum, 173, 405
Alopecurtis agrestis, 126, 233, 406 Ascowycetes, 319
435
436 INDEX
Atriplex hastata^ 122, 401 Bitter Candytuft, 67, 387
patula, 122, 369, 401 Cress, 156, 386
Atropa Belladonna, 300, 398 Flax, 158, 388
Atropine, 300, 306 Bitter-sweet, 302, 398
Autumn Crocus, 314, 404 Black Knapweed, 145, 146
Autumnal Hawkbit, 140, 191, 396 Nightshade, 108, 304, 398
Avena fatua, 128, 407 Blackberry, 164, 390
flavescens, 39 Blackhead, 175
pratensis, 407 Bladder Campion, 28, 69, 156, 387
pubescens, 39, 407 Blue Lupin, 290
strigosa, 129 Bluestone, 350
Azalea pontica, 299 Boiling water, tokill weeds on paths,
Chamomile, 13
CABBAGE ROOT FLY, 1 1 Corn, 90, 395
Cake feeding on grass land, 148, 150 Stinking, 90
Calamintha Acinos, 369
- Wild, 90, 395
Callitriche autumnalis, 327 Chara, 323, 340, 408
verna, 326, 393 Characea, 340, 408
Callunavulgaris, 151, 195, 396 Charlock, 10, n, 24, 26, 27,40,46,
Caltha palustris, 323, 325, 385 58, 233, 283, 386
Camelina saliva, 63, 386 jointed, 62
Campanulacea, 195, 396 losses due to, 59
Campion, Bladder, 28, 69, 156 spraying, 40, 46, 61
Evening, 69, 387 vitality of, 59
Red, 69, 156, 387 - White, 627,
White, 26, 69, 156, 387 Chelidonine, 283
Canadian Pondweed, 332, 403 Chelidoniiim majus, 282, 385
Candytuft, Bitter, 67, 387 Chenopodiacece, 119, 401
Cannabacea, 208, 403 Chenopodium album, 1 1, 24, 27, 119,
Caper Spurge, 124, 309, 402 3^9, 370, 401
Capitate Mint, 330, 400 sp. 47
Capsella Btirsa-Pastoris, 10, 24, 27, Cherry Laurel, 292, 390
63, 369, 370, 387 Chervil, 168
Carbolic acid, use of, 40, 44, 126, Chickweed, 24, 27, 28, 70, 233, 388
209, 34 6 350
,
Narrow-leaved Mouse-ear, 69,
Cardamiite pratensis, 140, 156, 386 139, 140, 156, 388
Carduus sp., 140 Chicory, 4, 28
Carex, 12, 140, 323, 369, 370 - Wild, 99, 395
ampullacea, 339 Christmas Rose, 281
paludosa, 339, 405 Chrysanthemum LcucanthctHUtn, 24,
pr&cox, 214, 405 40, 1 86, 369, 370, 395
riparia, 339 rust, 1 2
438 INDEX
Chrysanthemum segetum y 6, 24, 9 2 Conine, 295
151, 369, 370, 395 Conium maculatum, 294, 391
Cichorium Intybus, 4, 99, 359, 369, Conopodium denudatum, 167, 234,
395 391
Ctcuta vtrosa, 296, 391 Convallana majahs, 317, 404
Claviceps purpurea, 10, 12,319, 408 Convolvulacecz, 102, 256, 397
Cleavers, 13, 24, 28, 83, 172, 233, Convolvulus sp., 47
393 arvensis, 6, 13, 24, 102, 116,
Clematis Vitalba, 13, 151, 384 397
Gliders, 83 septtim, 6, 13, 103, 397
Climbing Buckwheat, 116,401 Copper sulphate, spraying, 40, 45,
Clithe, 83 55. 61, 343, 350
Cliver, 83, 393 Corn Bedstraw, 85, 393
Clover, 27, 50 Blue-bottle, 5, 86, 394
Broad, 39 Buttercup, 52, 233
Dutch, 39 Chamomile, 90, 395
- Red, 48 Cockle, 14, 24, 47, 69, 283,
Clover Dodder, 258, 397 388
Club-rush, 334, 338, 406 crops suffering from weeds, 9
Cnicus sp., n, i 77 Feverfew, 395
acaulis, 178, 394 Cromwell, 107, 397
-
arvensts, 27, 47, 86, 180, 369, Marigold, 6, 24, 28, 41, 92,
370, 394 151. 233, 234, 395
lanceolatiiS) 178, 394 Mint, 1 10, 400
palustris, 178, 394 Pansy, 68, 387
"Cocks and Hens," 198 Rose, 385
Cock's-comb, 268, 399 Speedwell, 109, 399
Cocksfoot, 39 Spurrey, 388
Codlins and Cream, 166, 391 - Wound wort, 112, 400
Colchicine, 316 Cornflowers, 5,8, n, 28, 47, 86, 394
Colchicum autumnale, 314, 404 Cotton Grass, 213, 405
Colorado Beetle, 1 1 Thistle, ii, 179, 394
Coltsfoot, 24, 28, 87, 185, 233, 394 Couch, 4, 5, 34, 47 *3 2 218, 233,
,
Perennial Ryegrass, 39
Ophioglossum vulgat^lm, 408 Sow Thistle, 47, 101, 396
Orache, Halberd-leaved, 122,401 Perennials, 18, 35
Spreading, 122, 401 Periderniium pini, 12
Orange Hawkweed, 194, 396 Peronospora effusa, 12
Orchards, weeds in, 136 parasitica, 1 1
Orchidacece, 208, 403 Persicaria, 7, 8, 27, 47, 114, 401
Orchis macuZata, 208, 403 Petasites vulgaris, 1 79, 394
mascula, 208, 403 Pdroselinum, 234
Purple, 208, 403 Petty Spurge, 124, 402
Spotted, 208, 403 Phaseolunatin, 291
Orobanchacecs 263, 399
, Phaseolus lunatus, 290, 390
Orobanche, 263, 399 Phorbia brassicce, 1 1
minor, 264, 399 Phosphates, influence on grass, 143
ramosa, 264 Phosphoric acid, 145
Rapum-genistcB, 264 Phragmites coinmunis, 323, 339, 407
Oscinis frit, 1 1
Phyttotreta (Haltica) nemorum, 1 1
Oxalis Ascetosella, 389 Pictou Cattle Disease caused by
Ox-eye Daisy, 24, 28, 40, 186, 234, Ragwort, 187
395 Pig-nut, 234, 391
Yellow, 92 Pig- weed, 119
Pilewort, 152, 385
PADDOCK-PIPES, 228, 408 Pimpernel, Scarlet, 6, 113, 400
Papaver Argemone, 53 Pine Cluster-cups, 12
dubium, 24, 53, 369, 385 Plankton, 323
hybridum, 53 Plantaginece, 108, 196, 398
446 INDEX
Planlago lanceolata, 24, 39, 108, Potamogeton natans, 336, 404
139, 140, 141, 196, 359, 369, perfoliatus 338, 404
,
39
trii'ialis, Pteris aquilina, 151, 226, 408
Poisonous weeds, 13, 276 Pttccina graminis, 10, 12, 155
PolygonacecB, 114, 201, 308, 331, hieracii, 12
401 pringsheimiana, 1 2
Polygonum Aviculare, 47, 115, 369, Puff-ball, 348
401 Purging Flax, 158, 388
Convolvulus, ii, 13, 47, 116, Purple Orchis, 208, 403
369, 401
lapathifolium, 369, 370 QUACK, 132
Persicaria, 8, 27, 114, 369, Quaking Grass, 28, 39, 146, 222,
401 407
Pond weed, 336, 403, 404 Quality of soils indicated by weeds,
Canadian, 332, 403 27
Curly, 404 Queen of the Meadow, 163, 390
Floating, 404 Quercus, 313
Lucid, 404 Kobur, 403
Opposite-leaved, 404
Small, 404 RAGGED ROBIN, 28, 156, 387
- Various-leaved, 404 Ragweed. See Ragwort
Poor- Man's Weather-Glass, 113, 400 Ragwort, 6, 12, 28,40,42, 150, 187,
Poppies, spraying of, 47 189, 23?, 395
Poppy, 5, 24, 233 Rain as distributor of weed seeds, 19
Common Red, 53, 281 Ramsons, 211, 404
Scarlet, 385 RanuncnlacecB, 50, 151, 276, 324,
Destroyer, 3J, 55 384
Long Smooth-headed, 53, 385 Ranunculus acrts, 13, 39, 140, 141,
Opium, 53, 281 i5 2 279, 369, 370, 385
Shirley, 5 aqnatilis, 385
- arvensis, 52, 280, 385
Potamogeton, 323, 336
crispus, 338, 404 bulbosus, 39, 140, 152, 279, 385
densus, 338, 404 Ficaria, 152, 280, 385
heterophyllus , 336, 404 Flammula, 155, 279, 323, 325,
lucens, 338, 404
INDEX 447
Ranunculus fli titans, 325, 384 Rough Hawkbit, 140, 191, 395
hehrophyllus 324 ,
Meadow Grass, 39
Lingua, 325, 384 Rubiacece, 83, 172, 393
peltatus, 325, 384
Rubus fwclicosus, 164, 390
repens, 27, 50, 140, 152,280, Riimex, ii, 27, 1 1 8, 140
369, 370, 385 Acetosa, 139, 140, 141, 151,
sceleratus, 155, 279, 325, 384 206, 360, 370, 401
sp., 13, 152 Acetosella, 119, 151, 204, 308,
trichophyllus, 325 369, 370,401
Raphanus microcarpus, 62, 387 aquaticus, 203
Raphanistrum, 8, 46, 62, 387 crispus, 201, 369, 370, 401
sativus, var. oleifer, 62, 387 Hydrolapathum, 331, 401
Rattles or Rattle Grass, 268, 399 obtusifolius, 20 1, 401
Reapers, seed-catching box for, 30 pratensfs* 203
Red Bartsia, 19 \ 272, 399 sanguineus, 203, 401
Campion, 69, 156, 387 Runch, 62, 233
Dead Nettle, 112, 400 Rushes, 4, 28, 150, 211, 233, 323,
Rattle, 272 405
Robin, 116 Wood, 212, 405
Redshank, 8, 47, 114, 233, 401 Rust of wheat, 10, 12
Reed, 339, 407 Ryegrass, 50
Reed fungus, 12 Rye-like Brome Grass, 130, 407
Grass, 323
Reed-mace, 334, 406 SAFFRON, Meadow, 5, 233, 314, 404
Remedial measures, 33 Sagiitaria sagiltifolia, 336, 4 3
Reseda lutea, 369 Sainfoin, growth of,to combat weeds,
Rest Harrow, 28, 163, 233, 389 30
Rhamnea, 288, 389 Salad Burnet, 165, 391
Rhamnns catharticus, 288, 389 Salsola Kali, 1 1
Rhinanthine, 269 Salt, use of, 40, 44, 268, 271, 346,
Rhinanthus Crista-galli, 13, 140, 349
268, 399 Sandwort, 71, 388
Rhizoctonia violacea, 12 - Thyme-leaved, 71, 388
Rhododendron, 299, 396 Saponin, 287
Chrysanthemum, 299 Sapotoxin, 287
ferrugineiim, 299 Sauce-alone, 58, 386
hirsutum, 299 Scabiosa arvensis, 172, 393
ponticiim, 299 Columbaria, 393
Rhoeadine, 281 succisa, 173. 393
Ribgrass, 139, 140,141,142, 196,398 Scabious, Devil's-bit, 173, 393
Ribwort Plantain, 39, 108, 139, 140, Field, 177, 233, 393, 394
149, 196, 398 Sheep's, I95 233, 396
Ricinus comimmis, 311 Small, 393
Rivers distribute weed seeds, 19 Scandix Pecten- Veneris, 81, 392
Rootstocks creeping, weeds spread Scarlet Pimpernel, 6, 113, 400
by, 21 Scentless Mayweed, 24, 92, 395
Rosa canina, 1 66, 391 Scirpus lacustris, 323, 338, 405
Rosacea, 78, 151, 163, 292, 390 Tabernamontani, 323, 339
Rose, Dog, 1 66, 391 Scleranthiis annuus, 76, 369, 370,
Rosellinia necatrix, 10, 12 388
radiciperda, 12 Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, 12
Rotation of crops, 32 Sclerotium disease, 12
Rothamsted Experiments on the Scorpion Grass, Parti-coloured, 107,
manuring of grass land, 144 397
INDEX
Screenings, weed seeds in, 33 Smooth Brome Grass, 1 3 1
Scrophularia aquatica, 329, 398 Soda, for killing weeds, 39, 349
nodosa, 329, 399 Sodium arsenite, 44, 262
ScrophulariacecB, 109, 199, 268, 307, Soft Brome Grass, 147, 223, 233, 407
329, 398 Soils, quality of, indicated by weeds,
Scutch, 132 27
Scutellaria galericula'a, 330, 400 weeds of damp, 28
Sedges, 4, 12, 28, 140, 214, 233, 339, good, 28
405 poor, 28
Seed testing, 353 Solanacea, io3, 300, 398
for farmers, 363 Solanine, 304, 307
germinating test, 365 Solatium Dulcatnai a, 300, 302, 398
importance of, 358 guineense, 305
purity test, 365 nigruni, 108, 304, 398
stations, 353 tuberosum, 307
taking of samples, 364 villosum, 305
Seed-catching box for reapers, 30 Sonchus arvensis, 24 47? 101, 396
Seeding, prevention of, 30 asper, 369
Seeds produced by various weeds, 23 oleraceus, 8, 1 1, 27, 99, 369, 396
sowing of bad, 144 sp., 140
clean, 31 Sorrel, 12, 146, 147, 233
true value of, 367 Common. 139, 140, 151, 206,
vitality of, 23 401
Self-heal, 159, 140, 199, 233, 400 Sheep's, 28, 41, 119, 151, 204,
Senebiera Coronoptts, 68, 387 308, 401
Senecio Jacobaa, 6, 40, 187, 395 - Wood, 389
latifolius, 189 Sour Dock, 139, 140, 206
vulgaris, 24, 27, 96, 395 Sourock, 206
Sheep destroy weeds, 36, 40, 1 50, 189 Sow Thistle, 7, 8, u, 24, 28, 140
Sheep-dip as weed killer, 350 Annual, 27, 99, 396
Sheep's Bit, 396 Corn, 101, 396
Shepherd's Needle, 81, 392 - Perennial, 47, 101, 396
Purse, 10, n, 12, 24, 27, 40, Sowing of bad seed, 144
63. 233, 349, 387 of clean seed, 31
Sherardia arvensis, 85, 369, 393 Space taken up by weeds, 6
Shirley Poppies, 5 Sparganium ramosum, 333,406
Silenc inflata, 69, 157, 369, 387 simplex, 334, 406
Silver-weed, 28, 78, 140, 234, 390 Spear Thistle, 178, 394
Sinapis arvensis, 10, II, 24, 27, 58, Spearwort, 325, 384
283, 386 Greater, 325, 384
" - Lesser, 155, 279, 325, 384
Singling" of cultivated crops, 6, 10
Sisymbrium Alliaria, 10, 58, 386 Speedwell, Corn, 109, 233, 399
ojficinale, 58, 369, 386 Common or Germander, 140,
Thaliana, 47 iP9> 339
Shim angustifolium, 328, 391 Ivy-leaved, 109, 399
latifolium, 391
- Water, 330, 399
Skellock, 58, 386 Spergula arvensis, 8, 71, 151, 388
Skull-cap, 330, 400 Sphagnum, 229. 408
Slender Foxtail, 126, 406 Spindle Tree, 288, 389
Slime, 343 Spircea Ulmaria, 163, 390
Small-flowered Hairy Willow Herb, Spotted Orchis, 208, 403
1
66, 391 Spraying
Small Toadflax, 47 Anthemis sp., 47
Smilacin, 287 Bindweeds, 47
INDEX 449
Spraying (continued} Spurrey, 5, 7, 8, u, 28, 41, 47, 71,
.
Charlock, 40, 46, 61 i5 I
,233, 388
Chenopodiiim sp., 47 Squirrels distribute weed seeds, 20
Corn Cockle, 47 Squitch, 132, 218
Cornflower, 47 Stachys arvensis, 1 12, 369, 400
Couch, 47 palustris, 330, 400
Creeping Thistle, 47 Starch wort, 318
I Daisies, 43 Stellaria graminea, 369, 370
Dandelion, 47, 193 - media, 24, 27, 70, 369, 370, 388
Docks, 47 Stem eelworm, 10, II
Dodder, 40, 262 Stemless Thistle, 178, 394
Effect on cereals, 47 Sterile Brome Grass, 28, 223, 407
Euphorbia sp., 47 Stinking Chamomile, 90
Fumitory, 47 Hellebore, 280, 385
Great Ragweed, 40 - Mayweed, 90, 234, 395
Groundsel, 47 Stinkweed, 67
Horse-tail, 47 Stonework, weeds and moss on, 351
Knotgrass, 47 Stonewort, 340, 408
Lamb's Quarter, 40 Streams distribute weed seeds, 19
Lawns, 43 Succory, 99
Lichens, 351 Sulphate of ammonia, 41, 149, 345,
Matricaria, 47 346
Moss, on fruit-trees, 381 of copper, 40, 47, 55, 61, 343,
Penny Cress', 40 350
Perennial Sow Thistle, 47 of iron, 40, 47, 55, 61, 347, 348,
Plantains, 43 350
Poppies, 47, 55 Sulphuric acid, 346, 350
Shepherd's Purse, 40 Sun Spurge, 124, 402
Sisymbriuw Thaliana, 47 Superphosphate, 146, 148, 149
Small Toadflax, 47 Surface Twitch, 116
Spurrey, 47, 74 Swans keep down water weeds, 343
Wild Barley, 40 Sweepings spread weed seeds, 21
Buckwheat, 40 Sweet Vernal, 224
Onion, 40, 44, 126, 209 Swine's Cress, 68, 387
- Radish, 46, 62 Symphytum officinale, 196, 397
Rose, 40
Spraying with ammonium sulphate, Tanacetum vulgare, 95, 395
4ii 43 Tansy, 95, 395
with arsenite of soda, 40, 44, Taraxacum officinale, u, 24, 140,
262 193, 396
with carbolic acid, 40, 126, 209 Tares, 14
with copper sulphate, 40, 45, Tarred paper, use of, 41
55, 61, 74 Taxine, 312
with iron sulphate, 40, 45, 55, Taxus baccata^ 312, 403
61, 262 Teazle, Fuller's, 172
with salt, 40, 44 Wild, 172, 393
Spreading Orache, 122, 401 Thale Cress, 233
Spudding, 36 Thalictrumflavum, 152, 384
Spurge Laurel, 308, 401 Thistle Cutter, 36, 150
Spurges, 47 Thistle, Cotton, n, 179, 394
Caper, 124, 309, 402 Creeping, 4, 27, 34, 41, 86,
Dwarf, 124, 402 179, 394
Petty, 124, 402 Dwarf, 394
Sun, 124, 402 Marsh, 178, 394
2 F
450 INDEX
Thistle, Sow, 7, 8, n, 24, 27, 28, Venus' Comb, 81, 392
140, 396 Veronica agrestis, 109, 233, 399
Spear, 178, 394 Anagallis, 330, 399
Stemless, 178, 394 Beccabunga, 330, 399
Thistles, i, 28, 140, 150, 177, 233
i
Buxbaiimii, 109
Thlaspi arvense, 66, 369, 387 Chamcsdrys, 140, 199, 399
Thorn Apple, 305, 398 hedercefolia, 109, 399
Thrashing machines, cleansing of, 33 Vetches, effect of spraying on, 48
Thyinelacea, 308, 401 growth of, to combat Annual
Thyme-leaved Sandwort, 71, 388 Knawel, 76
Tillage promoted by weeds, 3 weeds, 30
Toadflax, Yellow, 109, 233, 398 Viola tricolor, 68, 369, 370, 387
Toadpipe, 228 Violacea, 68, 387
Toothwort, 273, 399 Violet Root Rot, 12
Torilis Anthriscus, 171, 369, 392 Viper's Bugloss, 28, 106, 397
nodosa, 82, 392 Visctcin album, 274, 402
Tormentil, 165, 390 Vitality of seeds, 23, 59
Totter Grass, 223
Tragopogon pratensis^ 191, 395 WALL BARLEY GRASS, 226
Transpiration by plants, 9 Wart Cress, 68, 233, 387
Traveller's Joy, 13, 151, 384 Waste corners, weeds seeding in, 22
Trenching to kill weeds, 3, 41 "Watch Wheels," 53
Trifolium arvense, 369 Water Bedstraw, 393 .
THE END
,
HANSON <5r Co.
rgh &* London