WEEDS OF ARABLE LAND 119 



cial bane of the farmer, and much time is required in 

 many districts to collect and burn the large tap-roots 

 which are turned up by ploughing and deep cultivation. 

 The plan of bodily removing the weeds during the 

 autumn cleaning, as well as during tillage operations in 

 spring, is perhaps the best that can be carried out. In 

 growing corn crops " docking," or pulling up the Docks 

 by hand or by means of the docking iron, must be 

 practised as long and as late as practicable. A short 

 rotation, with thorough and regular hoeing of root 

 crops, will materially reduce Docks, for, while well 

 grown Docks have great vitality, seedlings (Fig. 59) are 

 easily destroyed in hot sunny weather when loosened 

 from the soil. Hoeing is especially necessary late in 

 the year when seedlings are establishing themselves 

 before winter ; and Fream remarks that il were the 

 hoe used in the root crops later in the year in the 

 autumn seedling Docks and seedling Couch, which 

 become established after that time, would have little 

 chance of causing trouble." l The use of pure seed, 

 free from Dock seed, is essential. 



Sheep's Sorrel (Rumex Acetosella L.), described at 

 p. 204, may sometimes be troublesome in arable land. 

 In such a case thorough tillage in hot weather, % with the 

 removal of the creeping roots and a good dressing of 

 lime (2 or 3 tons per acre), will reduce it. Hoeing 

 should be regularly carried out to prevent seeding and 

 to weaken the plants. 



CHENOPODIACE^: 



Goosefoot (Chenopodium album L.), also called Fat 

 Hen, Lamb's Quarters, or Meld-weed, and in Canada 

 and in the United States Pig- weed, is an erect branched 



1 Complete Grazier. 



