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The blue thistle may be briefly described thus: Herb, one to two 

 feet high, one or more stalks from same root; rough, bristly-hairy; 

 leaves narrowly lance-shaped, without footstalks; flowers, blue at 

 first, then more or less pink, funnel-shaped, with a somewhat irreg- 

 ular, lobed margin, from half to three-quarters of an inch long, some- 

 what crowded on branches which are often coiled at the tip; four 

 small roughened seeds in the bottom of the flower; blooms from June 

 to September, or even later. 



The second weed to which attention is called is popularly known 

 in Pennsylvania as yellow daisy, brown betty, wild sun-flower. 

 Botanically it is called Rudbeckia hirta. This plant is said to have 

 been brought from the Mississippi valley to the East in clover 

 seed. It also grows naturally in Western New York, and hence 

 may be said to prefer a climate somewhat cooler than that of 

 this State. Its increase here has been so slow and its advance so in- 

 sidious that our farmers apparently have failed to recognize its dan- 

 gerous character. But it is each year becoming better adapted to 

 our conditions of soil and climate, and as it matures a large number 

 of seeds, it is merely a question of time before its presence will be 

 severely felt. 



Of all the weeds which of recent years have invaded our State, this 

 is the one for whose continued existence there is the least excuse. 

 It is so conspicuous that it compels notice, and its multiplication has 

 been thus far so slow that there can be no reason for allowing it to 

 become a source of trouble. Yet its real character and power for 

 harm are evident when it is noted that in the states north and east of 

 us it is so abundant, just before the season of hay making, that it 

 literally colors whole fields of grass yellow. t 



I do not remember to have seen a field of grass in this State from 

 which it could not have been readily removed by pulling or digging. 

 Its eradication seems to be a question of now or never. I make this 

 statement in view of the fact that it continues to increase, and that 

 it has already become a nuisance in Ohio and New York. 



It may be described thus: Biennial herb, one to two and a-half feet 

 high, rough-hairy, leaves narrowly oblong, without footstalks, lower 

 ones more or less distinctly three-ribbed; flowers from an inch and 

 a-half to four inctfes across, yellow, with a dark brown, convex or 

 conical centre. (Like a small sun-flower and having its circumference 

 composed of about fourteen yellow leaves.) If cut too early in the 

 season it is likely to grow again and still produce a crop of flowers 

 and seeds. It is becoming very popular with flower gatherers, who 

 should by all means be encouraged to pull it. It blooms frrm June 

 to August. 



