52 BURDOCK 



Burdock Seeds stealing Rides. — Have you seen burdock burs 

 clinging to a person's clotlies, or to an animal's hair ? Give 

 a reason why burdocks are common around houses and barns, 

 and are seldom seen in the woods and meadows. Burdocks 

 are among the few plants that spring up on vacant lots in the 

 midst of large cities. Why is this ? 



Other Seeds that steal Rides. — In the fall, when you have 

 come from a walk in the fields, have you found seeds clinging 

 to your clothes ? Among them did you find a flat seed with 

 two barbed horns that held tightly to the cloth ? These seeds 

 are called pitchforks, or stick-tights. Notice on what kind of 

 plants they grow, so that you may keep away from them. 



Another kind of seed that will be likely to get on your 

 clothes is flat and rough, and is called hound' s-tongue. It is 

 harder to brush off than pitchforks, for it clings flatwise. The 

 clinging habit of the seeds is troublesome to us. How is it 

 helpful to the plants ? 



Birds as Seed Carriers. — Birds aid in the spread of plants 

 and trees by carrying their seeds away. Wild cherries are 

 often planted along fences in this way. What other seeds do 

 you know that are often planted by birds ? 



Weed Seeds and Man. — Many of our most common Aveeds, 

 such as wild mustard, shepherd's purse, corn cockle, and white 

 daisy have been brought here from Europe. Some sprang 

 from seeds that were mixed with seed grain ; some came with 

 the hay and bedding of animals, and some in the packing 

 around goods. Do you know weeds that have been brought to 

 your town in any of these ways ? 



Have you seen clumps of lily of the valley, motherwort, 

 tansy, or catnip growing where there is no sign of a house ? 

 These are all dooryard plants, and wherever you see them you 

 may be pretty sure that a house once stood near by. They 

 spread but little, except when planted by man, but once rooted 

 they grow in the same place year after year, long after houses 

 and fences ^nd ^yen fruit trees have disappeared. 



