DESCRIPTIVE MANUAL 307 



When this weed grows over the whole field the only thing to do 

 is to put it through a course of rotation. Where there is only a 

 stalk here and there it may be taken out with a 'spud,' which is 

 simply a two-inch chisel with a handle, by means of which the 

 farmer can cut out rapidly many of these weeds, but where it is 

 scattered over the field the only way is to put it through a course 

 of rotation." 



CAPRIFOLIACEAE, WOODBINE FAMILY. 



Contains a number of cultivated ornamental plants like the coral 

 honeysuckle, bush honeysuckle, elder, etc. 



Indian Currant, Coralberry {Symplwricarpos orbiculatus Moench.). 



Description — A shrub 2-4 feet high; purplish, usually pubescent 

 branches; leaves oval or ovate, entire or undulate, nearly glabrous 

 above, pubescent underneath ; flowers in short axillary clusters ; 

 corolla bell-shaped, sparingly bearded, pinkish, stamens included; 

 fruit a purplish berry. 



Distribution. — Rocky woods and along streams ; from New Jersey, 

 Illinois, South Dakota, Nebraska to Texas and Georgia. This weed 

 is common throughout the southern part of the state of Iowa and 

 is often most troublesome. 



Extermination. — Fields that are infested with this weed must be 

 broken up with a breaking plow and subsequently disked so that 

 the roots may be brought to the surface and exposed to the sun. It 

 may be necessary to disk once or twice more before planting the 

 crop. 



COMPOSITAE, SUNFLOWER FAMILY. 



Includes comparatively few economic plants, such as lettuce, arti- 

 choke, pyre thrum, sunflower; quite a number such as gum weed 

 (Grindelia), tansy and absinth, are used in medicine; several, like 

 daisy, cosmos, coreopsis, aster and goldenrod, are ornamental. 



