FIG. 32. 



ANNUAL Sow THISTLE, COMMON Sow THISTLE, OR MILK THISTLE. 

 Sonchus oleraceus (L). 



An annual weed introduced from Europe. It grows 2-3 feet high, 

 lias fibrous roots aud leafy stem, and is not quite so large or coarse as 

 the Perennial Sow Thistle. The leaves are much lobed, and have short, 

 soft spines. Each head is many-flowered; but the flowers are small, 

 about J in. across, and of a pale yellow color. The seeds are brown, thin, 

 and about J in. long, with longtitudinal markings, and attached to the 

 top is a large tuft of fine hairs united at the base. 



Time of flowering, June- August. 



Time of seeding, July-August. 



Dispersal chiefly by the wind. 



Eradication. Cultivate stubble-ground and sod early after harvest 

 and throughout the fall as for Canada Thistle (See Fig. 29). Follow with 

 hoed crop, preferably corn or roots, and cultivate thoroughly throughout 

 the growing season. Use the cultivator, instead of the plow, after roots 

 or corn ; sow a crop of grain and seed with clover ; if practicable, pull the 

 weeds by hand out of the grain crop ; take one or two crops of hay or 

 pasture, and again break up the sod, plowing, harrowing and cultivating 

 as for Thistle? (Fig. 29). 



