158 COMMON WEEDS 



nine times in eighty turfs in Dr. Fream's investigations. 

 It is to be found in plenty on grass land generally, 

 perhaps more especially upon that which has been 

 starved and upon poor wastes and commons. It is 

 usually perennial, and is a slender, straggly, procumbent, 

 downy plant (Fig. 41), with small oblong-lanceolate 

 leaves placed opposite each other in pairs on the stem ; 

 its clusters of small white flowers are arranged on short 

 stalks, and are open from April to August. This weed 

 frequently occurs in patches, which should be mown 

 close with the scythe before seeding takes place, and 

 better grasses and clovers should be encouraged by 

 manuring. The seeds of Mouse-ear Chickweed occur 

 in samples of w r hite clover and alsike seed, and in 

 samples of many grass seeds. 



MALVACEAE 



The Common Mallow (Malva sylvestris L.), which in 

 some places occurs freely on waste spots of ground, 

 damp meadows, and hedgerows, should be kept within 

 bounds by the use of scythe and hook. It is a robust 

 hairy plant of 2 to 3 feet in height, with showy lilac 

 flowers of over i inch in diameter, opening between 

 June and September. The soft green, unripe seed- 

 vessels are well known among country children as 

 11 cheeses" or " bread and cheese." They are not 

 unwholesome. The plant is biennial or perennial. 



LINAGES 



Bitter or Purging Flax (Linum catharticum L.) is a 

 small annual plant occurring in pastures and meadows, 

 especially those of a light calcareous nature. It is 

 smooth and shiny, from 2 to 12 inches in height, very 



