WEEDS OF ARABLE LAND 89 



the next year. They are somewhat like a foal's foot 

 in shape, hence the names of the plant. 



Coltsfoot is especially a weed of moist or wet stiff 

 soils, particularly if calcareous, an abundance of lime 

 appearing to be favourable to it. The weed is very 

 harmful for two reasons : (a) The extensively creeping 

 rootstock monopolises the ground to the detriment of 

 the cultivated crop ; and (b) the large broad leaves 

 cut off the light supply from the young growing corn 



Photo, 1909. H. C. Long. 



FIG. 23. Piece of ground infested with Coltsfoot (Tussilago Farfara L.), 

 showing the leaves beginning to cover the ground after flowering is nearly 

 over. 



or other plants. Several methods of attacking Colts- 

 foot may be followed: (i) The flowering stems must 

 be sought and cut early in the year in order to pre- 

 vent seeding this operation is of great importance, 

 for as it is useless to lock the stable after the horse is 

 stolen, so it is a poor plan to cut the leaves of Coltsfoot 

 and dig out the rootstocks while seeding is permitted ; 

 (2) if the leaves appear in the cultivated crop they 

 must be repeatedly cut off, this procedure tending to 

 exhaust the reserves of food in the rootstock and pre- 



