214 WEEDS IN THE MEADOW. 



to the large eastern dealers for our grass seeds, and to Denver 

 and San Francisco'for our alfalfa seeds. This may not be the 

 best plan, but it has been satisfactory as to the quality of the 

 seed procured and as to the price, which, including the freight, 

 we have found to be considerably less than that asked by local 

 dealers." 



Weeds in the Meadow. A weed is now generally described 

 as a plant out of place, or growing where it is not wanted. All 

 the pasture grasses are weeds, if they grow in our garden or corn 

 field. In some countries potatoes become weeds. A plant may 

 be a troublesome weed in one country and not in another. 



R. W. Emerson entertained a very hopeful view of weeds, and 

 defined one as "a plant whose virtues have not yet been dis- 

 covered. * * * * Every plant probably is yet to 

 be of utility in the arts." 



A largo majority of our worst weeds are foreigners, and have 

 come from Europe, Asia and South America. It is just so with 

 the fields of Australia and New Zealand. Most of the weeds are 

 introduced on to a farm by being sown with seeds of the grasses 

 jind clovers ; occasionally they come from fresh manure or from 

 waste places, or slovenly farms in the neighborhood. Most of 

 them are following the tide of emigration and are "going west," 

 but a few are taking the opposite course, such as Rudbeckia liirta, 

 L. Dysodia and Matricaria discoidea, D. C. 



In the words of Dr. Thurber: " Weeds seem to be naturally 

 well provided for distribution, but the careless farmer sows 

 them broadcast by the handful, and does what nature cannot do 

 lie put* them in well prepared soil, where they will be sure to 

 grow. In the month of March hundreds of farmers will sow 

 their clover. Next summer, or later, we shall have from some 

 of them letters and specimens. 'A new weed has appeared in 

 my field, or meadow, and threatens to kill out everything else. 

 What is it, and how shall I get rid of it? Where did it come 



