154 COMMON WEEDS 



place in pastures and meadows, especially so in land that 

 is not mown, for they are but seldom eaten by stock, 

 and are of an acrid or poisonous character (see p. 278) 

 in the green state. The milk of cows that eat them in a 

 fresh state becomes tainted. When dried and included 

 in hay they are freely taken and quite harmless. The 

 sowing of their seeds in impure grass and clover seed 

 mixtures should be avoided, and the tall flowering 

 stems should be cut down with the mowing machine 

 before seeding takes place. An attempt should be 

 made to reduce them by encouraging good grasses 

 and clovers by manurial treatment, and on heavy land 

 7 cwt. per acre of basic slag will do good ; on lighter 

 land superphosphate should be applied. Where R. re- 

 pens occurs it should be dragged out with harrows, or be 

 dug out by hand if the patch be small. In the case of 

 wide-spread infestation by this species the only remedy 

 is to plough up, clean thoroughly, and re-sow with a 

 pure mixture of seeds. 



Mr. Carruthers not long since 1 referred to the 

 presence of Buttercups in pastures, remarking that all 

 the species of Ranunculus, called Buttercups or Spear- 

 worts, possess acrid properties, and have not the slightest 

 feeding value. " They are usually rejected by animals, 

 but young stock not unfrequently eat them to their injury. 

 Some farmers like to see Buttercups in a field. They 

 consider them to be the sign of a good pasture. Butter- 

 cups no doubt show that the soil is fitted to grow plants, 

 but every Buttercup is a distinct injury to the pasture. 

 Being rejected by the stock, they flower and seed in 

 abundance. Their numerous seeds are well protected, 

 and remain ready to germinate under favourable 

 conditions. Some of the more acrid increase by 

 creeping stems that run above the ground or in the 



1 Jour. R.A.S.E., 1906. 



