Alfalfa in Kansas. 



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should be gathered up and burned before they break loose and scatter 

 their seeds far and wide. The removal of the weeds along the roadsides 

 is important, because they are a large factor in the spread of this pest. 

 Careful seeding so as to occupy the land fully with the crop will check this 

 weed to a large extent. 



PIGWEED OR RED ROOT. (Amaranthus retroftexus L.). Pigweed is an 

 annual weed growing from a fairly deep-rooted tap root. The root is 

 generally red in color, whence the plant is sometimes called "red root." 

 Pigweed grows from one to three or four feet high, and is somewhat 

 branched. The stems and leaves are very rough to the touch. The flowers 

 are inconspicuous. The small, oval, shiny, black seeds mature in July and 

 August. The seeds occur in those of almost all other crops, particularly 

 those of clover, alfalfa, and some of the grasses, but are not difficult to 

 remove by means of the proper cleaning machinery. The weed is common 

 in all parts of the country. 



Fia. 280. Dodder on alfalfa. 



