592 



Journal of Agriculture. [lo Oct., 1908. 



check evaporation and keep moisture in the soil by mamtaining a ' dust 

 blanket " or soil mulch on the surface, b\ means of a contmuous stuTing 

 of the soil while the plant is growing. The rows require t<> be moulded 

 up otherwise the plant becomes top heavy and falls down. 



The seed was sown early in March, thinly, in rows 2 feet apart; where 

 the plants showed too thickly they were transplanted. On the 4th June 

 the plot was calculated to ha\-e produced foliage equal to the weight of 

 4 tons to the acre, and at the present time (31st August), when the plants 

 are starting to seed, it would yield the same amount. The leaves should 

 be cut off when required and not pulled ; otherwise, the new sprouts will 

 not shoot again from the old source. It is an exceedingly valuable forage 

 plant, yielding a large amount of green feed during winter time^ and on 

 that account is especiallv of service to dairy farmers. I have no hesitation 

 in recommending its culture. One pound of seed sown in prepared seed 

 beds, will furnish enough plants for transplanting to sow about one acre. 



THE PROCLAIMED PLANTS OF VICTORL\. 



{Continued jrom page 544-) 



Alfred J. Ezvart, D. Sc., Ph. D., F.L.S., Government Botanist; and 

 J. R. Tovey, Herbarium Assistant. 



Californian Stinkweed, or Sheepweed. 



Gilia squarrosa, Hook and Arn. I'olenroniacece . 



It is also known as Digger's Weed and is a rather rigid plant, not 

 exceeding one to two feet in height. The stems branch copiousl\ in 

 more or less zig-zag fashion and like the leaves and calyces are covered 

 with glandular viscid hairs, emitting a foetid smell. Leaves one to two 

 inches long, deeply cut into pointed pinnate segments, the upper leaves 

 and bracts simpler and spiny. Flowers in dense heads surrounded by 

 green leaf-like tracts. Calyx of five pointed segments united at the ba.se 

 and exceeding the pale-blue, occasional!}- white, corolla lobes. Stamens 

 and trifid stigma within the tube of the corolla. 



The plant is a native of California, and other parts of North America, 

 hence Californian Stink- weed, and was originally found on moi.st ground 

 in mountain vallevs. In Victoria, however, it withstands drought and 

 spreads rapidlv, being a freely seeding annual or biennial. The plant is 

 a troublesome and aggressive but non-poisonous weed. On cultivated land 

 it is easily kept undex b\- clean cultivation, by the growing of root-<-rops, 

 and by the destruction of seedlings by hoeing and working the soil during 

 dry weather. On pastures and waste places, cutting before seeding will 

 help to keep it down, and if repeated until the seed in the soil is exhausted 

 will eventuallv suppress it. The seed in the soil appear to be short lived, 

 and if the pasture is periodically rested and a good stand of grass m.ain- 

 tained, this aids in preventing seedlings from re-establishing themselves. 



Proclaimed under the Thistle Act for the whole State, March, 1907. 



