Rural School Leaflet 



i 209 



a spoonful of salt put on the fresh cut. If persisted in as often as they 

 appear, this method is usually effective. 



Burdock, or clotbur* — This is a familiar enemy to most New York 

 farmers. It is never found 

 in cultivated land, but it may 

 be seen frequently around 

 deserted buildings and some- 

 times in fields or orchards in 

 sod. The burs are one half 

 to three quarters of an inch 

 across and are covered with 

 projections that end in hooks. 

 They become attached to the 

 clothing of persons and to 

 the hair or wool of animals. 

 This is nature's provision for ( 

 scattering the seeds so that \Ss 

 there will be no crowding J 

 when they are ready to grow, r"^ 



When the life history of 

 this plant is understood it 

 becomes a very simple matter 

 to destroy the weed. The 

 plant lives but two years and 

 no seeds are produced until 

 the second year. It grows 

 close to the ground during the 

 first season, but sends up 



stalks in the second year. If cut off below ground the first year or 

 before going to seed the next year its life will be ended. 



\ 



) 



Burdock 



' Good for nothing' the farmer said, 

 As he made a sweep at the burdock'.' head, 

 But then he thought it was best, no doubt, 

 To come down some day and root it out. 

 So he lowered his scythe and went his way 

 To hoe his corn, to gather his ha} ; 

 And the weed grew safe and strong and tall 

 Close by the side of the garden nail." 



' ' I will go root away 

 The noisome weeds, that without profit suck 

 The soil' s fertility from wholesome flow rs." 



^_^___ SHAKESPEARE, Richard Ll, Act III, Scene IV. 



* The term elotbur is also applied to the cocklebur (Xanthium). 



