IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS LAND 191 



stocked with sheep not a single Ragwort can be 

 seen." 1 



Cat's-ear (Hypochceris radicata L.) is a perennial weed 

 of grass land found on almost all soils. The leaves, 

 growing from the rootstock, vary in length from 3 or 

 4 to about 10 inches, are rough and wavy, and, like the 

 rest of the plant, somewhat rough. The yellow flowers, 

 which appear in June to September, resemble those of 

 the Dandelion, and are over i inch in diameter, borne 

 at the end of a branched stalk nearly a foot high (Fig. 

 53). The fruits are readily scattered by the wind, and 

 occur also in many grass seed samples. 



Goafs-beard (Tragopogon pratensis L.) is an erect 

 perennial plant, from i to 2 feet high, with sheath-like 

 leaves clasping the stem, and contracting from below 

 upwards until linear near the tip. The flowers are 

 yellow, and J to 2 inches in diameter, appearing in 

 June to July. Hooker says that the root is edible, and 

 the flowers close at noon. It occurs in pastures and 

 meadows as well as arable land, especially on medium 

 and heavy soils. 



Rough Hawkbit (Leontodon hispidus) has oblong- 

 lanceolate leaves resembling those of Cat's-ear, about 3 

 to 5 inches long ; the yellow heads are nearly i \ inch 

 across, borne on long unbranched stems (Fig. 54). 

 Flowering takes place in June to September. The 

 plant is perennial. The whole weed is covered with 

 rough harsh hairs. It occurs in pastures and meadows 

 on dry soils. 



Autumnal Hawkbit (Leontodon autumnalis L.) in 

 general resembles L. hispidus , but the leaves are smooth, 

 and the flowering stalks branched. It occurs in similar 

 positions to the last species, and is perennial. 



The four last-mentioned weeds are all spread by 



1 Trans. Highland and Agric. See., 1894. 



