Junior IRatutalist /Iftontbli? 



Published monthly by the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University from 

 October to May, and Entered at Ithaca as Second-class Matter. L. H. Bailey, Director. 



ALICE G. McCLOSKEY, Editor. 

 New Series. Vol. 3. ITHACA, N.Y., DECEMBER, 1906. No. 3. 



WHAT IS THE BURDOCK GOOD FOR? 



Ada E. Georgia. ' 



" 'Good for nothing,' the farmer said, 



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



But then he thought it was best, no doubt, 



To come some day and root it out. 



So he lowered his scythe and went his way 



To hoe his corn, to gather his hay ; 



And the weed grew safe and strong and tall, 



Close by the side of the garden-wall." 



I am sure that all the children who have gardens during the summer 

 will agree with the farmer and say, " Good for nothing." This will 

 surely be true if any of the plants were neglected and permitted to 

 mature and scatter their seeds in or near the garden last year. The 

 burdock is a biennial, which means that two years are required for a 

 plant to come to maturity and produce seed. 

 Such a weed is much easier to get rid of than 

 a perennial which lives on from year to year 

 in its roots, like quack grass. It needs only 

 to keep the burdock's blooms from ripening 

 into seed to be certain of its absence the next 

 season, for the roots will die after the plant 

 has blossomed. 



The burdock is rather a handsome plant 

 when it can have its own way and grow tall 



and strong. Its roots are used in medicine, and horses are very fond 

 of the young leaves in the spring. I know one who would leave his 

 oats any day for a handful of tender burdock leaves. 



Study a burdock bur. Not only is every bristle hooked at its tip, 

 but its edges are curled inward and slightly roughened. No wonder 

 it catches so easily to the coats of sheep and cattle and to the clothing 

 of any person passing near enough to touch. Animals rub the burs off 

 against fences and tree-trunks and so plant them in new localities, 



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