23 



Description. It is a perennial weed of European origin, and produces 

 slender runners, which lie near the surface of the soil. The leaves are 

 all basal, and lie close to the ground, forming a rosette. They are 

 broadly lance-shaped, from 2 to 6 inches in length, the "flower" is 

 orange red in color, about 2-3 of an inch in diameter, and borne in clusters 

 on the top of a simple, nearly leafless stem from 12 to 18 inches high. 

 The seeds are provided with tufts of down. When found in clover seed, 

 however, the down is usually absent. They are torpedo-shaped, about 

 1 -1 2 of an inch long, and ribbed lengthwise. Ripe seeds are dull jet black 

 in color, unripe seeds deep red. 



Eradication. Paint Brush is but a shallow rooted perennial, and 

 readily succumbs to cultivation. Infested meadows and pastures should 

 be broken up and put under a short rotation of crops. Salt at the rate 

 of ij tons per acre is recommended for the destruction of this weed. It 

 should be scattered over the patches so as to fall on the leaves. It is 

 claimed that it destroys the Paint Brush and improves the grass. 



Fig . 22 . Seed of Orange Hawkweed . 

 Enlarged about 12 times. 



Know the Weeds. 



It is very important that those engaged in farming should get to 

 know the worst weeds, and the weed seeds most frequently found in com- 

 mercial seeds. This they can do with a little trouble. Strange weeds 

 should be sent to the Botanical Department here for identification and a 

 collection of the most common weed seeds should be secured for refer- 

 ence and comparison. In order to aid farmers and others to test their 



