256 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



anihus iuherosus are eaten under the name of Jerusalem artichokes; 

 Girasola, the Italian name for sunflower, having become angli- 

 cized into Jerusalem. True artichokes are the fleshy receptacle 

 and imbicated scales of Cynara Scohjmus. The flowers of Carlha- 

 mus tinctorius, often called Saffron, yield a yellow dye', much 

 inferior in quality to true saffron. The Liguliflorai, or Cichoracese, 

 all have milky juice, which is narcotic, and has been employed as 

 a substitute for opium. The bland young leaves of the garden 

 Lettuce are a common salad. The roasted roots of the Wild Suc- 

 cory ( Cichorium Intyhus), are extensively used to adulterate coffee; 

 and the roots of some species of Tragopogon (Salsify, Oyster-jjlant) 

 and >Sc'or20«era are well known esculents." — {Gray.) When the 

 heads have the outer flowers strap-shaped or ligutate, and the 

 middle flowers tubular they are called radiate, when all the flowers 

 are tubular the head is called discoid. As has been said, the scales 

 which grow upon the receptacle, among the flowers, are called 

 chaff; when destitute of these the receptacle is naked. 



44. Iron-weed — Veronia JSovdmacensis. Perennial. Stem ivio io six feet high, red- 

 dish, becoming firm and woody with age. Leaves three to seven inches long, nunie'rous, 

 somewhat tough and leather-liiie. Flowers dark purple, in discoid heads. Involucre 

 shorter than the flowers, the inner scales longest. Receptacle naked. Pappus of many 

 capillary bristles. 



This plant is probably most abundant near the seashore. Dar- 

 lington says in his valuable little work, edited by Prof- Thurber, 

 that this plant is quite common in moist low grounds and along 

 fence rows. From its worthless character and coarse hard stem 

 it is justly regarded as an obnoxious weed. "The root of this 

 must be cut like the Canada thistle before the flowering season in 

 spring, or the danger will be imminent of its overrunning the 

 whole area in a short period by means of its floating seeds." 



45. Thoroughwokt — Eupatorium perfuliatum. This well known 

 plant is frequently so abundant in wet meadows and low grounds 

 as to be considered an objectionable weed. Its presence is rather 

 an indication of a careless farmer. The medicinal properties of 

 the plant arc well known in domestic medicine. Purple boneset, 

 also known as trumpet weed and joe-pie, is found in similar situa- 

 tions as thoroughwort. It is a stouter plant, with light purple 

 flowers and large leaves in whorls of three to five at the joints. 



46. Asters. The genus is characterized as follows: Heads radiate, many-flowered. 

 Scales of the involucre, more or less imbricated, usually with herbaceous or leafliko tips 



