384 TROUBLESOME PLANTS [1758. 



grass grow amongst it ; and the cattle can't abide it. But it doth 

 not injure corn so much as grass, because the plough cuts off the 

 stalks, and it doth not grow so high, before harvest, as to choke 

 the corn. It is now spread over great part of the inhabited parts 

 of Pennsylvania. It was first introduced as a fine garden flower ; 

 but never was a plant more heartily cursed by those that suffer by 

 its encroachments. 



The common English Hypericum \_H. perforatum, L.] is a very 

 pernicious weed. It spreads over whole fields, and spoils their 

 pasturage, not only by choking the grass, but infecting our horses 

 and sheep with scabbed noses and feet, especially those that have 

 white hair on their face and legs. This is certain fact, as gene- 

 rally affirmed ;* but this is not so bad as the Linaria. The hoe 

 and plough will destroy it. 



Wild Chamomile, called Mathen \Maruta Cotula ? DC], is 

 another mischievous weed. It runs about and spreads much, 

 choking not only the grass, but the wheat, more than the other 

 two ; but hath not yet spread so generally as they. But this may 

 be killed by planting Indian corn, or sowing buckwheat on the 

 ground, for several years successively. I had it brought many 

 times in dung ; but when I find it I burn it root and branch. 



Leucanthemum is a very destructive weed, in meadow and 

 pastux-e grounds, choking the grass and taking full possession of 

 the ground, so that the fields will look as white as if covered with 

 snow ; but the hoe and plough will destroy this weed. 



The great English single-stalked Mullein, grows generally in 

 most of our old fields, and with its broad spreading leaves, takes 

 up some room, in our pastures ; but it is easily destroyed with the 

 plough, or scythe, having only single tap roots. 



Saponaria is more difficult to eradicate, as it runs deep, and 

 spreads much under ground ; but it is not yet spread much in the 

 country. With care we may keep it under. 



The great double Dandelion is very troublesome in our meadow 

 ground, and difficult to eradicate ; but the hoe and plough will 

 destroy it. 



Oroio G-arlick is greatly loved by the horses, cows, and sheep, 



* This is the opinion which universally prevailed, half a century since, among 

 the farmers of Eastern Pennsylvania ; but I am now led to suspect its accuracj". 

 by the fact, that the Hypericum still abounds, and the disease has disappeared. 

 See "Agricultural Botany.'" 



