WEEDS OF CULTIVATED LAND. 413 



are sometimes planted, and attain a good size, which is never the case 

 in their natural habitat in this region (the strand). The buttonwood 

 (Platanus ore idea talis) is occasionally planted about country farm- 

 houses. The silver poplar {Populus alba), and the paper mulberry 

 (Broussonetia papyrifera) are favorite introduced shade trees, and 

 are both pretty well naturalized. The osage orange; {To.njhm pomi- 

 ferum) is sometimes set out for hedges, attaining a height of 40 feet 

 and a diameter near the base of the stem of 10 inches. In gardens in 

 the towns the crape myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) is abundantly 

 planted, and grows to be an exceedingly ornamental small tree. The 

 fig (Firus carica) usually accompanies it. Less common in this lati- 

 tude is the Ohinaberry (Melia azedarach). AMzziajulibrissin, like- 

 wise a small tree, was not seen north of Edenton, but is there com- 

 monly naturalized near the town. 



The associations of largely indigenous species already described, 

 which take possession of abandoned fields and country roadsides are 

 not to be confused with the weed formation proper, which consists 

 largely of species which have immigrated from other regions, especi- 

 ally from the Old World. This formation occupies cultivated land, 

 especially near the towns, waysides along the principal lines of travel, 

 and vacant lots, wharves, etc., in the cities ami villages, as well as 

 barnyards and inclosures generally in the country. An enumeration 

 of ad the weeds of the region would be out of place here; only the 

 more conspicuous species will be mentioned in the following discussion. 

 Of cultivated land.— Chickweed or wintergreen (Alsine media) is 

 one of the most abundant of weeds in truck land about Norfolk, being 

 especially troublesome in strawberry holds during the cooler part of 

 the year. Squirrel tail (Hordeum pusillimi) is a very common vernal 

 weed in the holds of garden vegetables, as are Coronopus didymus 

 and sheep sorrel {Rumex acetosrlla), the last being one of the most 

 characteristic weeds of the strawberry fields. Species of dock ( Rumex 

 crispus, R. abtusifolius), wild radish (Raphanus raphani strum) and 

 the mouse-ear chickweed (Cerastium viscosuvi) are likewise note- 

 worthy among weeds, especially in spring. The broom rap*' (Oro- 

 banche minor) is exceedingly common among red clover in the country 

 about Norfolk and Portsmouth, and is also parasitic upon the roots of 

 other plants, notably the vetch ( Vicia satira). It is conspicuous in 

 clover fields and on roadsides toward the beginning of summer. 



From . midsummer to early autumn a different group of weeds 

 appears. Compositae such as the eocklebur (especially Xanthium 

 strumarium), ragweed {Ambrosia artemisiaefoliu), horseweed (Lepti- 

 lon canadense), and dog fennel (Eupatorium mpdlifolium) are promi- 

 nent. In the black corn lands along the eastern border of the Dismal 



