WEEDS AND PESTS AND DISEASES 135 



it is not a weed to be tolerated in the garden. Once 

 established it may take years to eradicate. 



Coltsfoot is a difficult weed to get rid of. Its leaves are 

 large and angular. They are more or less white on the 

 under side, and die off every winter. The root stock 

 produces yellow flowers in the spring before the leaves 

 appear. If the soil is dug up round these plants it will 

 be seen that it is full of thickish white roots. These 

 roots run along under the surface, often for a considerable 

 distance, and reappear in new positions. If they are 

 broken, every piece will grow and form a new plant. 



The Hawkweeds are similar to the dandelion in flower 

 and character. They also have a long tap-root, but 

 are easier to remove than dandelions. They spread 

 quickly. 



The common Feverfew is not a pleasant weed to have. 

 It is easy to remove in a young state, when it makes a 

 good vegetable humus, but it rapidly grows into a small 

 bush 1-2 1 ft. high, which is covered in the summer with 

 whitish flowers with a yellow centre. It requires some 

 strength to pull up, for it usually has masses of fibrous 

 roots, which, however, do not give rise to new plants. It 

 seeds quickly. If the flowers are cut off, another crop 

 will be produced in a few weeks. It is a perennial of some 

 vigour, but it usually dies at the end of the third or fourth 

 year. However, do not be softened by its rather pretty 

 appearance, but have it up. 



Dock grows chiefly on vacant ground, often associated 

 with nettles. Nettles are more or less killed if cut down, 

 but not so the dock. It possesses strong crowns and 

 spreads by roots and seeds. If it gets into the flower 

 garden it is extremely difficult to get out. 



The common Daisy is a perennial. It spreads rapidly 

 from seed which sow themselves all round the parent 

 plant ; it must be treated with promptitude. Young 

 flowerless plants make very good vegetable humus. 



Plantain is more common in lawns than in flower 

 borders. In the former it must be spudded up with care, 



