I 99 1 



The Curfed mjile is more general in its growth 

 than any of the others, being found not only by the 

 fides of roads univerfally, but alfo in arable land, 

 and is not uncommon in meadows, even in fuch as 

 are yearly mown. It is remarkably prickly, grows 

 about three feet high ; its heads are fmall, the 

 flowers purple, and frequently white. The fcalcs 

 of the heads are fmooth, and may in a particular 

 manner be diftinguiflied from all the others before- 

 mentioned, by having a perennial root about the 

 fize of a goofe-quill, which runs deep into the earth, 

 and afterwards creeps along horizontally. 



Of thefe thiflles, all except the iaft are either 

 annual ox biennial y that is, remain in the ground 

 not more than one or two years, unlefs renewed 

 by feed. The Iaft, having a perennial root, conti- 

 nues in the earth, increafing and throwing up new 

 (hoots every year. 



Hence it will appear obvious, that if the firft 

 feven fpecies of thilUcs are cut down before they 

 perfed their feed, the ground will be entirely cleared 

 of them; and that the laft-mentioned can no other- 

 wife be deftroyed, than by rooting it out, a procefs 

 which the following experiments will forrowfully 

 convince the rural occonomift to be impradticablc 



in 



