217 



This is no easy task to do, unless every farmer works to keep it down, for one farm, 

 can supply seed enough to seed a whole district. 



"Sheep eat it and appear to suffer no ill effect from doing so, and it is claimed 

 hereabouts that sheep are the beyt motor yet discovered to kill out the weed. I have 

 often wondeied why our County Council have not taken the matter up ; for, as I have 

 said, the weed will overrun the whole county, as it does any section where it gets 

 a hold, unless prompt measuies are taken to stamp it out. But my word for it, its 

 destiuction is worth a mighty effort." 



Faiher Burke writes: "I notice nothing will eat it here. I have time and 

 again put it in to pigs, which, closed up in pens, usually rush for anything green; 

 but they would not touch ihe Baughlan." 



It is well that all who see this weed should make an effort to destroy it. lu 

 old meadows and pastures digging out each plar.t will be necessary, as it has such a 

 firm hold on the soil that it is almost impossible to pull it up. flotation of crops 

 and frequent cultivation will of course destroy it in faim lands; but it flourishes by 

 road sides and in waste places. The only way to eradicate it entii-ely would be for 

 the members of agricultui-al societies and farmers' institutes to wage a systematic 

 war against it. This should surely be possible. 



Perennial Sow-Thistle. {Sonchus arvensis). 



This is another troublesome 'plant which is complained of by farmers every 

 year. S|)ecimens were sent in by the editor of the Stouffville Tribune, of Stouffville, 

 Ont., who stated that the plant was beginning to seriously affect crops in that vicinity 

 and that farmeis had applied to him for information concerning it and the best 

 method of extermination. It is a perennial, with strong underground stems which 

 spread out a long distance from the centre. The leaves cover the ground closely 

 and choke out the crop amongst which it grows. The flowering stems have no 

 leaves towards the top, where there are three or four large yellow flowers which are 

 conspicuously glandular hairy outside and on the foot-stalks. When this plant is 

 established in a piece of land it can be eradicated only by constant cultivation or 

 iioeing. 



Burdock {Lappa officinalis). 



The large rhubarb-like leaves of this plant, and the burrs with their hooked 

 tips which surround the flowers and seeds, ai-e well known to everyone. The Bur- 

 dock is a biennial, and is easily eradicated by cutting it off below the collar, or by 

 continuous mowing to prevent the plant going to seed. 



"Wild Chicory, Succory (Cichorium Intyhus). 



The lovely blue flowers of this perennial plant are very conspicuous along road- 

 sides in many parts of Canada. It also is occasionally f >und in fence corners and 

 around stone heaps. It has strong spreading root-etocks, but is not a difficult plant 

 to overcome b}'' constant hoeing. The large flat, pure blue flowers are borne on stiff 

 leafless stems and open only early in the morning. 



Orange Daisy {Rudheckia hirta). 



This is one of our most beautiful wild plants. It has now been introduced into 

 most parts of Canada, where it may frequently be seen in clover fields. The flowers 

 are bright orange with a purple centre, and are about the same size as those of the 

 Ox-eye Daisy. The whole plant is very rough and bristly hairy. During the past 

 summer I received specimens from several places, one of which was from Prince 

 Edwai'd Island, where it was described as " not common, but had a-itracted attention 

 by its great beauty. " 



Such a conspicuous plant as this is, catches the eye at once, and it should always 

 be pulled up when seen, as it developes a large number of seeds and spreads rapidly. 



