272 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



in clusters or racemes which are from three to six inches long and borne opposite the 

 leaves. Brrry diuk purple, almost black, flattened, ten-sooded, filled with an abundant 

 rich purple juice 



111 low situations, along the borders of fields and clearings, this 

 native plant frequently becomes troublesome. It has become 

 naturalized in Europe, thus making- a small return for the many- 

 weeds which that country has sent us. The root of the pokeweed 

 is highly medicinal. The young and tender shoots are often used 

 as a substitute for asparagus. The pith is peculiar for being 

 divided into horizontal layers, \vhich are easily separated after the 

 stem has been killed by the frost. The pokeweed is readily de- 

 stroyed by cutting the root just below the surface of the ground 

 with a stilf hoe. 



Order 29. CTIENOPODS— CHENOPODiACEyE. " Mostly inert or 

 innocent, weedy plants ; several are pot-herbs, such as spinach 

 and beet." — ( Gray.) Soda is obtained from the common saltwort 

 {SaUola,) and saltwort or samphire [Salicornia,) maritime plants. 



92. Pigweed — Chenepodium album. Annual. Stem three to five feet high, angular 

 or grooved. Leaves one to two inches long, whitish-mealy, especially on the under side. 

 Flowers mealy, in dense clusters. 



A well known weed, plentiful in gardens and cultivated grounds. 

 It is known in some localities as white goose-foot and lamb's quar- 

 ters. Sheep and cattle will eat it, and hogs devour it greedily. 

 In some parts of England it is said to be used as a pot-hcib. We 

 would not, however, recommend that it be cultivated for such a 

 purpose, or even permitted to grow of its own accord. Tlie 

 rapidity with which this weed would multiply under favorable 

 circumstances is astonishing. The following is in the American 

 Agriculturist for May, 1861: "A single pigweed {Ghenopodium 

 album), if left undisturbed, will ripen more than ten thousand 

 seeds, each capable of producing a successor. * * * This is 

 not mere guess work, for pains-taking investigators have actuallj'' 

 counted and calculated the increase. A single pull at the com- 

 mencement of the seasoii will destroy the whole progeny." We 

 see that by the above rate of multiplication — 10,000 seeds to a 

 plant — we should have for the fourth years' crop, 10,000,000,000,- 

 000,000 seeds, which might the fifth year produce plants enough 

 to cover a little more than 18,305, 472, 910 acres, allowing 100 

 plants to a square foot ! 



" Now rid your fields of one year's seeding 

 And eavo the toil of sevoD yeara' weeding." 



