THE MUSTARD FAMILY 97 



laginous glands, oblong, angular, cut off transversely at the 

 scar end, sometimes almost square from compression in the 

 pod, grooves conspicuously darkened. The miniature root 

 of the germ prominent and plainly visible through the thin 

 skin. 



Time of flowering: June to July; seed ripe in August. 



Propagation : By seeds. 



Occurrence: In grain fields, roadsides and neglected fire 

 guards in the West. Occasionally found along railways and in 

 waste places in other parts of Canada, but not as a farm weed. 



Injury : This is one of the mustards with all the bad character- 

 istics of these aggressive enemies of the farmer; enormously 

 prolific, with great power to spread, owing to its tumbling 

 habit, a coarse conspicuous plant and a gross feeder. When 

 abundant it seriously interferes with cutting and elevating the 

 crop by self-binders and greatly increases the amount of twine 

 required. The seeds give an objectionable flavour to ground 

 grain, and farm stock, with the exception of sheep, refuse to 

 eat it when it is present in quantity. 



Remedy: Harrowing spring grain, as recommended for 

 other mustards, is effective; if this is done, Tumbling Mustard 

 will give little trouble. Discing in the fall immediately after 

 harvest and clean cultivation before seeding in the spring are 

 recommended. Screenings containing the seeds should be 

 destroyed. Plants about the edges of fields, along roadsides 

 and fireguards should not be allowed to mature. New and 

 reasonably clean fields may be kept clean by hand-pulling. 



ALLIED SPECIES: Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale 

 (L.) Scop.) is a common weed along roadways and waste places, 

 widely distributed throughout Canada. It seldom gives serious 

 trouble in fields. The plant is from 2 to 3 feet high and of a 

 ragged appearance, with small, lobed leaves, small pale yellow 

 flowers and thick-walled slender pods, which become hard and 

 brittle when mature and are closely pressed to the few-branched 

 stem. This weed is easily destroyed along roads and waste 

 places by cutting to prevent it from seeding. 



