THE PURSLANE FAMILY 73 



Remedy: Sow clean seed. Prevention is the best and least 

 expensive method of fighting it. It is a large showy plant and 

 when not present in excessive numbers can be easily hand-pulled. 

 The seed will not retain its vitality long; when land is seeded to 

 timothy or western rye grass and left for a few years, the supply of 

 vital seeds in the soil will be greatly reduced, if not entirely 

 exhausted. Where land is badly infested with Cow Cockle, a 

 thorough summer-fallow, as outlined for Purple Cockle, is the 

 most effective method of exterminating it. Harrowing grain 

 crops just before the grain emerges from the ground, and again 

 when it is three inches high, will kill any seedling weeds. 



ALLIED SPECIES: Bouncing Bet (Saponaria officinalis L.) 

 is a showy plant about 2 feet in height. Flowers light pink, in 

 compact panicle-like cymes. A common perennial weed along 

 roadsides and waste places; varieties of this species are cultivated 

 in gardens. Sometimes called Soapwort because the roots can 

 be used for washing instead of soap. 



THE PURSLANE FAMILY (Portulacaceae). 



This small family of plants comprises about twenty species, 

 all low, fleshy herbs, with mostly alternate thick leaves. The 

 seeds are borne in great numbers in cone-shaped capsules. The 

 flowers are sensitive to sunlight and close at night or when com- 

 pletely shaded. Rose Moss (Portulaca grandiflora Hook), of which 

 there are several improved varieties, is cultivated for decorative 

 purposes. Purslane is a typical and well-known representative 

 of this family and the only one that gives serious trouble. 



Thry fallow betime, for destroying of weed, 



least thistle and docke, fal a blooming and seed: 



Such season may chance, it shall stand thee upon; 

 to till it again yer summer be gon. 



Thomas Tusser, Five Hundreth Pointes of H-usbandrie, 1557. 



