178 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



Europe, and has invaded America, via England. 

 No greater nuisance distresses the farmer than 

 this plant, for it takes possession of pasture and 

 meadow land, and runs out the grass and clover. 

 Only the plow and hoe keeps it from over-running 

 field and garden, for its seeds are abundant, and 

 the wind sows them. 



Have you seen the roadside and hillside white 

 in late summer with the lace umbrellas of the wild 

 carrot? You have called them " Queen Anne's 

 lace." The cluster is made up of hundreds of 

 small, white flowers, in a flat-topped cluster, the 

 big umbrella made of numerous little ones. Each 

 arm of the much-branched stalk bears flowers. 

 After blossoming, the umbrella turns wrong-side- 

 out, forming a tight ball while the seeds are ripen- 

 ing. Each seed is ridged and roughened by 

 prickly hooks, by which it is able to catch a ride 

 on a cow's tail, for instance, if one brushes near by. 

 The stems are brittle; so the heads are blown about 

 by the wind, and the seeds gradually sown wher- 

 ever they travel. The vitality of the seeds lasts 

 for years. If they do not germinate the first year, 

 they may later on. No wonder the wild carrot 

 seems to inherit the earth, or a large part of it! 

 No wonder it is hated cordially by farmers, and is 

 considered one of their most dangerous foes. 



