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branches ; flowers yellow, tubular, about i \ inches long, clustered ; 

 seeds in oval capsules. The plant is decidedly poisonous to stock, 

 a reason why its spread should be checked. 



Sulninun uigrum (Black-berried nightshade ; black currant). 

 Indigenous to the greater part of the globe, and considered a 

 native of Australia as well. A well-known common weed, generally 

 found in cultivated soil, waste lands, and newly-broken ground. 

 growing to a height of sometimes 3 feet. A succulent annual 

 poisonous in all its parts. Leaves dark green, ovate, and irregularly 

 toothed'; flowers white, small ; fruit black, soft, enclosed in a 

 tough skin. Children frequently eat the berries without harm to 

 them, although they are distinctly poisonous and will cause nausea. 

 Tii^s seem to be particularly sensitive to the poison of this weed 

 and its berries. They are said to die through eating it, and in 

 consequence the plant is known in certain parts of Germany as 

 " Sautod " (sowdeath). A correspondent from Deniliquin, in New 

 South Wales, writes in the Agricultural Gazette, vol. vi., p. 293 : 

 " Supposed to be the cause of blindness in horses, particularly 

 young animals, who unknowingly eat the plant." 



Solatium sodomaeum (Apple of Sodom). Indigenous to South 

 Africa. A shrubby plant of a spreading habit from three to five 

 feet high, armed with strong prickles at the base of the leaf stalks. 

 Leaves large, deeply lobed and covered on the underside with short 

 white hairs set starlike ; flow T ers violet, upwards of an inch across, 

 growing in small clusters ; berries globular, often over an inch in 

 diameter, green, variegated with yellowish white. Generally found 

 on the sides of roads, and often in rocky soil. A perfectly useless 

 plant with poisonous berries. 



Lithospenniim arvense (Corn gromwell ; .bastard alkanet). 

 Indigenous to Europe and Western and Central Asia. An erect 

 annual, growing over a foot high, with a hoary stem branching 

 towards the top. Leaves lanceolate, dark-green and hairy ; 

 flowers small, white, closely attached to the stem, or terminal ; 

 seeds blackish, wrinkled, very hard. Often very trouble- 

 some in cornfields, and also found in waste places. The root of 

 this noxious weed is red externally and stains the skin if rubbed 

 with it. Peasant girls may probably use it at times to paint their 

 cheeks, for in Germany it is known as " Bauernschminke." 



Mcnllia pnlegium (Pennyroyal). Indigenous to the countries 

 surrounding the Mediterranean ; extending over Europe and 

 Western Asia. A prostrate branching perennial ; strongly scented ; 

 leaves small, narrow ; flowers small, in clusters. In waste places 

 and damp situations. 



Stachys atrcnsis (Hedge nettle ; stagger weed). Indigenous to 

 Europe and Central Asia. A slender, hairy annual with branched 

 stems, erect or slightly decumbent, sometimes over one foot 

 high ; leaves small ovate ; flowers small, of pale purple color. In 

 cultivated or broken lands and waste places. A prolific seeder and 



