FENCE-CORNER WEEDS. 45 



doubtless been carried by mice or shrews. I 

 have sometimes mistaken them for parts of the 

 heads of dead insects. 



The tall and handsome poke weed flourishes 

 best in the rich mold in the corners of old rail 

 fences. Many a plant destined to become a 

 scourge to the farmer ripens its first seeds on 

 his farm within the area of these projecting 

 and protecting fence angles. There, safe from 

 the plow and the hoe, the future weed succeeds 

 in its struggle with its associates ripens its 

 seeds by scores or thousands and then sends 

 them forth, borne by the winds of heaven or the 

 wings of birds, to other fence corners or fallow 

 fields. 



An example of such a pernicious weed is the 

 wild carrot, 10 now very common on the poorer 

 clayey soils of all the Middle- Western States. 

 An alien from Europe, it is only a few years 

 since the first one in this region grew to perfec- 

 tion in some fence corner, unnoted save by the 

 insects which flew about its petals or the birds 

 which, in autumn and winter, sought sustenance 

 from its seeds. 



l Daucus carota L. 



