272 EXPERIMENTAL FARMS 



2 GEORGE V., A. 1912 



WEEDS. 



An examination of our correspondence shows that among the weeds most fre- 

 quently inquired about this year are the following: Orange hawkweed, ribgrass, 

 field bindweed, perennial sow-thistle, couch grass, wild mustard, wormseed mustard, 

 rocket, chess, night-flowering catchfly, hop clover and yellow trefoil. It is evident 

 that such a list does not indicate the relative seriousness of weeds. Some of those 

 inquired about have interested the senders because of the difficulty they have had in 

 dealing with them, but quite as many have been sent because they were unknown and 

 thought to be new and possibly noxious or because some feature or other of the plant 

 has caused it to attract attention. In the latter cases it is only necessary to point out 

 the name and nature of the weed, and advise the ordinary measures against weeds prac- 

 tised on all good farms. In other cases, the serious prevalence of a weed, or its persis- 

 tent character, demands the giving of special instructions for its eradication, and is 

 often a matter of considerable moment to the farmer. 



THE MULLEINS. 



There are two species of mullein which are weeds of some importance in Canada. 

 The Common Mullein (Yerbascum Thapsus, L.) (Fig. 2 b) is familiar to everyone as a 

 tall, coarse, wooly plant, occurring on roadsides, in pastures, and especially in light or 

 worn-out soils where the grass is thin. It is not eaten by sheep or other animals. | it 

 is not generally known that it contains a poisonous principle); and therefore remains 

 standing even when the pasture becomes quite bare; and in winter its long stems are 

 conspicuous objects wherever it has been growing. The treatment for its eradication 

 consists in breaking up the sod and growing a hoed crop for a year. The land should 

 never be left in sod longer than two years, where it can be included in a systematic 

 rotation. Where it is to be left in permanent pasture, the mulleins may he spudded 

 below the crown while young, or pulled when larger. 



A less known, but possibly worse weed, when it becomes common, is Moth Mullein, 

 (Verbascum Blattaria, L.) (Fig. 2 a). It is appearing in numerous localities and when 

 neglected, soon spreads from the point where introduced. It is more slender, and 

 usually lower than the common mullein, and is not woolly, but smooth throughout. 

 The flowers are rather attractive, about an inch in diameter, and yellow, and are borne 

 in a loose raceme quite unlike the cylindrical spike of the other species. The Moth 

 Mullein, like the common mullein, is a biennial, and the same treatment may he fol- 

 lowed in dealing with it. 



FIELD BINDWEED (Convolvulus (irvaisis) . 



One of the weeds which is quietly but very insidiously taking possession of man;, 

 farms in Canada, and has already made itself known, especially in Ontario, as a noxi- 

 ous weed of the first rank, is Field Bindweed or Wild Morning-glory. We hear more 

 about perennial sow-thistle and some other weeds, which are at the present tin e 

 spreading more rapidly so as to occasion more alarm, but it is doubtful if any one of 

 them is so difficult to eradicate as this; and its occurrence too, is much more general 

 than has been believed. 



Field bindweed is not nearly so well known yet as it needs to be. We receive 

 many specimens of it for identification, and we find that comparatively few farmers 

 know it by name. There is also some confusion between this weed and wild buck wheal 

 sometimes known as black bindweed, which has a similar twining habit. It is import- 

 ant that these two weeds should be distinguished, because the latter while everywhere 

 r.tundant, is an easily destroyed annual, which need not give serious trouble. Any- 

 lone by an examination of the underground parts can satisfy himself of the difference 

 1, etween them. Wild buckwheat has a wiry, slender root which breaks up into many 



