204 COMMON WEEDS 



the flowering stem and crown be removed the part 

 remaining in the soil will quickly give rise to a new 

 stem, while the part removed may, if left lying on the 

 ground, live and produce flowers and seed. The seeds 

 are too commonly found in grass and clover seed 

 samples; and Mr. Martin ]. Sutton says 1 that "com- 

 paratively few samples of clover harvested in this 

 country are entirely free from Dock seed, but it is 

 true economy to ensure a pure sample." 



Wherever Docks occur in grass land they should be 

 removed with the docking iron when the ground is soft, 

 although the fleshy roots are so deeply seated that it is 

 nearly impossible to lift them completely. They may 

 also be reduced by regular spudding every time they 

 show signs of renewed vitality ; the operation should 

 always be carried out before flowering is advanced. 

 Every portion removed should be burnt, and not care- 

 lessly thrown in the hedge or ditch as is frequently 

 done, for such pieces may take root in damp places, 

 produce adventitious buds, and then flower and seed. 

 When a Dock has been cut off near or below the crown 

 a pinch of sulphate of ammonia placed on the cut 

 surface generally kills the root. (As regards Docks 

 on arable land, see p. 118.) 



Sheep's Sorrel (Rumex Acctosella L.) is a slender 

 perennial 6 to 20 inches high, with an extensively creep- 

 ing rootstock (Fig. 60). It has a smooth branched 

 stem, and hastate or somewhat arrow-head shaped 

 radical leaves borne on long stalks, the upper or stem 

 leaves being sessile and narrowly lanceolate or linear. 

 The small male and female flowers are borne on 

 separate plants in branched, leafless panicles of several 

 inches in length, appearing from May to August. In 

 late summer and autumn Sheep's Sorrel becomes of a 



1 Permanent and Temporary Pastures* 1908. 



