DESCRIPTIVE MANUAL 



113 



Wallace's Farmer suggests the following treatment: "Russian 

 thistle is easily controlled by cutting it off just below the surface of 

 the ground before it seeds in August. It has not proved a dangerous 

 weed east of Mississippi river." 



CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. 



Original 

 Sample 



Dry 



Matter 



Water 



Dry matter 



100 parts contain: 



Water 



Crude ash 



Ether extract (crude fat) 



Nitrogen free extract (soluble carbohydrates).. 

 Crude fiber. 



Crude protein (total nitrogen x 6.25) 



True albuminoids (albuminoid N x 6.25) 



(2.22) 



84.52 

 15.48 



84.52 



3.41 



.34 



6.10 



2.78 

 2.86 



100.00 



(14.35) 



22.01 

 2.20 

 39.39 

 17.94 

 18.46 



100.00 



AMARANTHACEAE, PIGWEED FAMILY. 



This family contains few economic plants. Some, like the cock's- 

 comb, are grown for ornamental purposes. 



Pigweed, Eedroot (Amaranthus retro flexus L.). 



Description. — A roughish, more or less pubescent annual ; 3-5 ft. 

 tall ; leaves ovate or rhombic-ovate, undulate ; long-margined petiole, 

 entire ; flowers in thick spikes crowded in a stiff or bunchy, spiky 

 panicle; bracts subulate, longer than the mucronate or obtusely- 

 tipped sepals. 



Distribution. — A weed throughout North America, especially east- 

 ward ; abundant in every county in the state. 



Extermination. — Frequently distributed with clover seed; sow 

 clean clover seed in a clean field. Easily exterminated by cultiva- 

 tion. 



Fletcher and Clark recommend as follows : ' ' When embedded in 

 the soil, the seeds retain their vitality for several years, though prob- 

 ably not more than five in a moist soil, and produce seedling plants 

 only when brought by cultivation within about two inches of the 

 surface. ' ' 



