THE SUNFLOWER FAMILY 145 



be suppressed by repeated cultivation between the middle of 

 July and the middle of September, when the land may be seeded 

 to winter rye with a liberal application of thoroughly clean grass 

 seed. 



ALLIED SPECIES: Several other goldenrods are rather 

 troublesome free-growing perennials; among them are: 



Tall Hairy Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa Mill.), with long 

 hairs, crowded leaves and a broad, pyramidal panicle. 



Tall or Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) and 

 varieties, with a slender stem, hairless at the base, and thin, 

 narrow-lance-shaped leaves. 



Smooth Goldenrod (Solidago serotina Ait.), with stout, 

 smooth stems, leaves smooth on both sides. 



All these showy, autumn-flowering plants are wayside 

 and grass-land weeds and do not give trouble on fields under 

 regular cultivation. 



The true Asters, of which about 70 species are native to our 

 country, very seldom become aggressive weeds. 



As for the Sow-Thistle, the chief and onely Annoyance of all Thistles (as for other 

 Thistles I scarce know how to rank them among those grand Corrupters, because the 

 opinion of most men are, that they are most certain symptons of good land as usually 

 they are; so are Nettles, Hemlocks, Mallowes, etc.), and yet I had rather they were all 

 destroyed than remain upon my lands (but because they are of lesse offence, and we have 

 greater Prejuideces than these, He let them passe); but for the Sow-Thistle it is of so great 

 offence that it destroys all the grasse it covers, which is many times a foot round, and 

 also so easie to be destroyed that I shall put the Grazier or farmer upon no other charge 

 or trouble, but onely to take a little Paddle staffe, as a Walking-staffe, and give each one 

 a chop at the Root as he passeth by them, which will be rather a Recreation to an active 

 man, than a Burthen, and thus every day a few as they grow in bignesse, will in a few 

 days destroy them all; Or else a Shepheard, or Keeper of the Ground, as he walks among 

 his Cattell may easily keep them under, as he goes about his daily businesse; But since 

 I have found out a more certain way which will destroy them at one spudding up, which 

 being done as soon as the Thistle begins to spread, but they must be done as it were up, 

 by, or under the root, which lyeth very overly, and if it be not cut at first chop, it may 

 at next by the Root ; I had the last yeare a field of an hundred Acres so thick over-runne, 

 that some acres were as thick that one man could not do above halfe an Acre in a day 

 I caused them to be spudded up by the root, which was done at two chops by my Spade, 

 I was not onely freed of them the last Summer wholly, but my whole ground is Cleansed 

 of them for this yeare, and so I hope for ever. I beleeve the charge thereof was neare 

 twenty shillings, or there about. A more certaine way I know not. 



Walter Blith, The English Improver Improved, or The System of Husbandry Surveyed, 1652. 



