THE SUNFLOWER FAMILY 151 



Injury: This coarse annual crowds and starves grain grow- 

 ing near it, but the chief loss to farmers is due to the difficulty 

 millers experience in separating the seed from grain, owing to 

 its similarity to wheat in size and weight. The spines catch 

 in the meshes of the screens and give trouble in cleaning. 



Remedy: This is one of the few weeds in Manitoba for 

 which hand-pulling is practicable. As a rule, the plants are 

 conspicuous and grow near the edges of the fields. The labour 

 required in pulling this weed before the seed is ripe is more than 

 repaid by the increased value of the grain harvested. Special 

 attention should be given to fields along streams that are liable 

 to be flooded. A mowing machine should be used around the 

 edges of infested fields before the seed is ripe. 



This is true, that where Kine feed upon Wilde Garlick, their Milk tasteth plainly 

 of the Garlick. And the Flesh of Muttons is better tasted where the Sheep feed upon 

 Wilde Thime, and other wholesome Herbs. 



Bacon, Natural History, 1625. 



Most subject is the fattest soil to weeds. 



Shakespeare, 2 Henry VI, Act IV, Sc. iv, 1592. 



There are many ancient and received Traditions and Observations, touching the 

 Sympathy and Antipathy of Plants; for that some will thrive best growing near others, 

 which they impute to Sympathy; and some worse, which they impute to Antipathy. 

 But these are idle and ignorant conceits, and forsake the true indication of the causes; 

 as the most part of Experiments, that concern Sympathies and Antipathies do. For as 

 to Plants, neither is there any such secret Friendship, or Hatred, as they imagine. And 

 if we should be content to call it Sympathy and Antipathy, it is utterly mistaken; for 

 their Sympathy is an Antipathy, and their Antipathy is a Sympathy: For it is thus, 

 wheresoever one Plant draweth such a particular Juyce out of the Earth, as it qualifieth 

 the Earth, so as that Juyce which remaineth is fit for the other Plant, there the Neighbor- 

 hood doth good, because the nourishments are contrary, or several: But where two 

 Plants draw (much) the same Juyce, there the Neighborhood hurteth; for the one deceiveth 

 the other. 



Bacon, Natural History, 1625. 



