20 



FIG. 5. 



DOCK, CURLED DOCK, SOUR DOCK, OR YELLOW DOCK. 

 Rumex Crispus (L). 



A deep-rooted perennial weed introduced from Europe. 



It occurs around buildings, in neglected lanes, along waysides/and in 

 pastures. The stem is quite slender, and the leaves are from six to twelve 

 inches long, with wavy margins ; hence the common name, " curled 

 dock." The flowers are in racemes, green in color. 



The seed is winged, and is carried considerable distances by the 

 wind. The manner of attachment of the seed to the wing is shown in 

 illustration (Fig. 5, a.). The seeds are light brown in color, triangular^ 

 with sharp edges and tapering point. They are smooth and shiny 

 (Fig. 5, b). 



The wind acts as an agency in scattering the seed, and it is a very 

 common impurity in clover and other seeds used on the farm. 



An average plant produces about 17,000 seeds. 



Time of flowering and seeding, July-August. 



Eradication. In most cases this weed can be kept in check by the 

 frequent introduction of well-cared-for hoed crops into the rotation. The 

 shorter the rotation, the better. The later sown hoed crops, especially 

 rape, are more effective than those sown earlier in the season. Before the 

 hoed crop is sown, this weed may be kept from breathing above ground 

 by going frequently over the field with a broad- shared cultivator, which 

 will cut the plants an inch or two below the surface ; but as the roots are 

 tough and strong, it may sometimes be necessary to use the gang-plow, 

 or even the single plow. About the 1st of July, the land may be sown 

 with rape in drills, say 26 inches apart, and kept clean, or nearly so, by 

 the horse -hoe and more or less hand hoeing. The rape can be pastured 

 off in the usual way during the fall ; and occasionally it may be neces- 

 sary to put another hoed crop on the same ground the following spring, 

 say a crop of corn ; but much depends upon the timeliness, regularity , 

 and thoroughness with which the hoeing is done. 



