350 Field, Forest, and Wayside Flowers 



Some weeds lay hold on the passer-by, quadru- 

 ped or biped, and force him, will he, nill he, to sow 

 their seeds abroad. To bring this result about, 

 the seed or fruits are barbed, and they claw the 

 unwary traveller and cling to him with exasperating 

 constancy. When the ''stickers" are at last picked 

 or rubbed off, they fall to the ground, probably 

 many rods from the spot where they grew, and 

 thus Nature's purpose with regard to them is 

 achieved. This is the way the ragweed travels. 

 The thorny seed-vessels of the cockle-bur and the 

 burdock also obtain free transportation in return 

 for their close attachment to some wayfarer, quad- 

 ruped or biped. So successful have been these 

 schemes that the weeds which put them into prac- 

 tice have travelled half around the globe. Like an 

 invading army they push further and further on, 

 despite all the resistance of the owners of the soil. 



Many, indeed most, of the dooryard weeds come 

 from the Old World, and have already travelled 

 across this continent to the newly-cultivated lands 

 of the far West. Some varieties seem unable to 

 live far from human habitations, and persistently 

 follow us up in the teeth of all opposition. Like 

 the mediaeval Highlanders they have become sturdy 

 and resourceful in the stern training-school of con- 



