70 COMMON WEEDS 



especially on light, sandy soils. It has a hairy stem, 

 linear-lanceolate leaves somewhat crowded at the base 

 of the shoots, and clusters (cymes) of many small, white 

 flowers. 



These two species are frequently kept down by the 

 earlier sown cereals, which soon over-top the low- 

 growing weeds. They are harmful, however, owing to 

 their habit of growing closely around the base of the 

 stems of corn and root crops. Thorough cultivation, 

 and deep ploughing with the use of the skim coulter, 

 keeps them in check. 



Chickweed (Stellaria media L.) is an annual weed 

 which is ubiquitous on arable land on most soils, espe- 

 cially in gardens and on rich, well-tilled land. It is a 

 low, prostrate weed, much branched, and easily dis- 

 tinguished by the fact that " a linear whisker runs up 

 one side of the stem, and when a pair of leaves is 

 reached the whisker is continued on the opposite side " 

 (M'Alpine and Wright). " Water poured on the plant 

 runs down these, and Stahl explains them as adapta- 

 tions similar to drip-tips (cf. Ficus) for drying the plant 

 after rain ; Lindman thinks they convey the water to 

 the leaf-axils, where it is absorbed by the plant." l 

 The leaves are ovate, the lower ones being stalked and 

 the upper sessile. Large numbers of small white 

 flowers in lax clusters are produced from early spring 

 to late autumn, and the plant exhausts itself in seed 

 production. Chickweed is a lowly weed which hugs 

 the soil closely, wrapping the ground in a mantle of 

 green. It is perhaps more troublesome in gardens than 

 on the farm ; but it grows and matures so rapidly, 

 and sheds such an abundant supply of seeds, that 

 a close watch must be kept upon it. To keep it down a 

 continual use of the hoe in hot dry weather is neces- 



1 Willis, Flowering Plants and Ferns. 



