THE BUCKWHEAT FAMILY 43 



seed crop. A handful of salt placed on the crown of Docks, 

 after cutting in dry hot weather, will extract the moisture and 

 destroy the root; this is a remedy sometimes used in lawns and 

 pastures when the soil is too hard and dry to permit pulling them. 



ALLIED SPECIES : Veined Dock (Rumex venosus Pursh.) 

 is a perennial which differs from Curled Dock in having 

 running rootstocks and a larger, smoother leaf with prominent 

 veins; the flowers, in short panicles, are larger than those of 

 Curled Dock, pink in colour, and, unlike most of the species of 

 the genus, quite attractive in appearance. It is native to 

 western Canada and gives trouble in some of the lighter soils of 

 southern Alberta and Saskatchewan. The seed is nearly 1/4 of 

 an inch long. The most satisfactory remedy is deep plowing 

 when the plant is coming into bloom. 



The seeds of the Docks commonly found in imported clover 

 seeds are strikingly alike, but have the following points of 

 differentiation. 



Curled Dock (Rumex crispus L.). Seeds nearly symmet- 

 rical, both ends pointed, widest near the centre, the edges very 

 slightly margined, reddish brown and highly shiny. 



Clustered Dock (Rumex conglomerates Murr.). Apex of the 

 seed pointed, base rounded, smaller, plumper, dark reddish 

 brown. The plant is characterized by its oblong, smoothish leaves 

 and its leafy panicle of flowers on short stalks. 



Bitter Dock (Rumex obtusifolius L.) Seed unsymmetrical, 

 widest below the centre, edges unmargined, the base with a rough 

 scar, brownish yellow, dull. The lower leaves of the plant are 

 broad and heart-shaped and the stem somewhat roughened. 



The seeds of most sorts of weeds are so hardy, as to lie sound and uncorrupt for many 

 years, or perhaps ages, in the earth; and are not killed until they begin to grow or sprout, 

 which very few of them do unless the land be ploughed, and then enough of them will 

 ripen amongst the sown crop to propagate and continue their species, by shedding their 

 offspring in the ground (for it is observed they are generally ripe before the corn) and 

 the seeds of these do the same in the next sown crop; and thus perpetuate their savage, 

 wicked brood, from generation to generation. 



Jethro Tull, The Horse Hoeing Husbandry, 1731. 



