340 WEEDS OF AGRICULTURE. 



olituria). Leaves linear, tongue-shaped, blunt; flower; 

 capitate; capsule inflated, two-lobed. Root annual; 

 flowering in April and June. 



Professor Martyn observes, that the common Englisl 

 name of this weed probably had its origin from the circum- 

 stance of the plants appearing in flower about the time that 

 lambs are dropped. In the English Flora, Sir J. E. Smith 

 has happily separated this plant from Valeriana, and has 

 theiebv lessened the labour and removed tlie doubts of the 

 voung botanist, which always presented themselves when 

 the botanical characters of ibis plant came to be coujpared 

 with those mentioned in the generic character of Valeriana. 

 The wdvaafedia, Sir James Smith observes, as derived from 

 fedus, an ancient word, synonymous with hadns, a kid, is 

 not unsuitable to this genus. As judicious husbandry will 

 render harmless this humble intruder on tillage lands, 1 shall 

 just observe, that a small bed of rich garden earth sown 

 with the seeds in August, or in the end of July, will supply 

 an excellent portion of salad throughout the winter, until 

 April*. 



9. FLIX-WEED (sisymbrimn Sophia). Petals smaller 

 than the calyx ; leaves finely divided, somewhat hairy. 

 Root annual; flowering in June and July. 



This is more prevalent on dunghills and rubbish heaps 

 than in corn fields. It ripens its seeds in August and Sep- 

 tember. The pods retain the seeds all winter. The force 

 of gunpowder is said (with what certainty I know not) to be 

 augmented by mixing a tenth part of the seeds of flix-weed 

 with the other injrredients. 



* It has been long known and used as a salad herb, and lately as 

 an excellent vegetable dish for the table, dressed in the manner of 

 spinach. If sown as above mentioned, the plants will be ready for 

 use when the summer salads are over. I may here be permitted to 

 add, that water-cresses ( sisymhrium nasturtium) have lately also been 

 found to afford a salubrious vegetable dish, when dressed in like 

 manner, particularly lor invalids. 



