WEEDS OF MAINE. 275 



100. Sheep Sorrel — Field Sorrel — Rumex Acetosella. Roots perennial. Stem six 

 to twelve inches high, slender, branching. Leaves one to two inches long, acid. Flowers 

 small, numerous, reddish or brownish. 



A despicable little foreigner, which may almost be classed with 

 Canada thistles or witch grass for troublesomeness, and is quite as 

 difficult to eradicate. We have seen this weed so abundant in 

 certain fields as to present an unbroken appearance of brownish- 

 red when in blossom. To keep one's land free from this most 

 contemptible plant, the introduction of the seed should be scru- 

 pulously guarded against. Under the present perfection of seed- 

 separators, one can have but small excuse for sowing foul seed, 

 no matter what it is. A machine has been constructed by S. 

 Adams, Esq., which will separate twelve different kinds of seeds 

 at once. If the sorrel has taken full possession of the field, the 

 best and only way to make svj'e work is to thoroughly cultivate 

 the ground, applying barn-yard or stable manure freely. Sorrel 

 and three tons of hay can not grow on the same acre ; and where 

 wheat yields thirty bushels to the acre sorrel is a rare plant. 

 There is no greater fallacy than that which teaches that where 

 sorrel is abundant the land is sour and needs an alkali to neutralize 

 the acid. Because the leaves of the sorrel are sour, we are not 

 to suppose that the soil upon which it grew is sour also, any more 

 than to believe that the soil upon which crab-apples are grown 

 must be sour. Very sweet and exceedingly sour apples are not 

 unfrequently found on the same tree. The acidity which we find 

 in certain plants is not drawn directly from the soil, but is a vege- 

 table product. Sorrel will grow upon a limey soil as well as upon 

 any other. The only effect which the application of lime has to . 

 eradicate sorrel is in its promoting the growth of other plants . 

 which tend to choke it out. The prevalence of this plant is a 

 strong indication of a light or impoverished soil, and its extirpa- 

 tion can only be effected by high cultivation or rotation of crops. 



Order 32. SPURGEWORTS— EupnoRBiACE.E. A large (2,500 

 species, Lindley) and interesting order, afibrding many valuable 

 species. From the roots of the Mandioc {Janipha Manihot) is 

 obtained a starch which affords the tapioca of commerce. Croton 

 oil is procured from the seeds of Croton Tiglium, an Indian plant. 

 The Siphonia elaslica yields the true caoutchouc or gum elastic. 

 Boxwood, so invaluable to the engraver, is afforded by Buxus sem- 

 pervireus. From the Grozophora tinctoria we have the beautiful 



