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SP eee CTE ha en Pat: Aer Bien At te EO ae A ee et ee 
808 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 
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the plant be boiled and the water thrown off, it is not unwholesome, 
and is sometimes eaten by the peasants In Germany as a vegetable. - — 
(Plate VIII.) . PS) 
Chondrilla juncea. bk 
This plant grows to the height of 2 or 3 feet, having strong, deeply -— 
spreading roots, and slender, twig-like stems, more or less branching 
above and apparently destitute of leaves, or with a few slender 
thread-like leaves. The leaves are mostly in a cluster at the base of 
the stem, where they have an irregular jagged shape, much like those ~ 
of the Dandelion. “The bare twigs become sparingly clothed during 
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the summer with sessile flowers of the order Composite; in appear- 
ance much like those of Lettuce. This unsightly perennial weed has. 
been introduced into Maryland, Virginia, and other Southern States, ~— 
where it is spreading along roadsides and over dry uncultivated 
fields. Complaints have been received from Virginia of its agressive 
nature, and of the difficulty of its extermination. It is a native of 
the southern half of Kurope and the adjoining countries of Asia. 
- Over most of France it is common upon sandy soils. It has not yet 
entered England and the other northern countries of Kurope, and 
therefore it is not expected that it will become prevalent to any ex- 
tent in our Northern States, 
For the eradication of this pest summer fallowing with frequent 
plowing and harrowing will be necessary. This method, succeeded | 
by a hoed crop, will probably relieve the field of its presence. At 
the same time the greatest care should be taken to exterminate it 
from roadsides and neglected fields, where it is lable to maintain a 
foothold. (Plate IX.) 
St. JOHN’s wort (Hypericum perforatum). 
A perennial herb, growing 13 to 2 feet high, usually with many . 
opposite spreading branches, and clothed with many opposite, small, 
sessile leaves, less than an inch long, oblong or ovate-oblong, with 
entire margin and obtuse summit. These leaves are marked by  _ 
many minute pellucid dots. The fiowers are collected into small 
‘clusters or cymes at the extremity of the branches. They are less 
than an inch in diameter, with five deep yellow petals, which are . 
twice as long as the lanceolate sepals. The stamens are very nu- 
merous, collected in several clusters. There are three pistils, which 
develop into a three-celled many-seeded pod. ; 
-This plant received its name, probably, from the fact that “ the 
common people of France and Germany gather it with great cere- 
mony upon St. John’s day and hang it in their windows as a charm ~ 
against storms, thunder, and evil spirits.” The plant has been in- — 
troduced and become naturalized quite extensively in this country 
east of the Mississippi. It is a perennial weed, rather troublesome 
m old fields and pastures. At one time it was supposed to cause 
ulcers upon the feet of cattle, but it has probably no such effect. 
(Plate X.) 
PIGWEED (Amarantus hybridus). 
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This coarse annual weed, common in nearly all cultivated ground, ~ 
grows to the height of 4 or 5 feet, with a much-branched stem, with 
numerous alternate leaves, which are mostly from 2 to 3 inches long, 
