374 



WEEDS 



FIG. 262. The mullein plant is 

 often a bad weed in pastures if mow- 

 ing is neglected. Large numbers of 

 seeds are borne at the top and the 

 plants will increase rapidly if allowed 

 to ripen the seed. (U. S. D. A.) 



less woody plants such as the wild 

 rose, poison ivy (poison oak), prairie 

 willow and others. 



Herbaceous perennial weeds begin 

 bearing seed as soon as they are old 

 enough perhaps by the second year. 

 They bear seed each year and die to 

 the ground by winter time. The next 

 season they spring from the ground 

 and develop a new flower stalk and 

 bear another crop of seeds. Weeds 

 of this character are the most per- 

 sistent and most difficult to eradicate. 

 (See Fig. 261.) 



Another classification of weeds 

 may be made on the basis of the 

 habitat or place of growth. The lines 

 between these classes are not defi- 

 nitely marked out but may be some- 

 what as follows: 



(1) Those \vhich are found chiefly 

 in cultivated fields or among "hoed" 

 crops. Examples are: Purslane, 

 lamb's-quarter, pig weed, field bind- 

 weed, and numerous others. 



(2) Those which are found in grain 

 fields in places where the ground is 

 not tilled or plowed more than about 

 once during the growing season. An 

 example is ragweed, which springs 

 up after grain harvest and- fills the 

 stubble field. Corn cockle is often 

 common in the grain. 



(3) Pasture weeds, including those 

 which are found in permanent hay 

 fields and permanent pastures. These 

 prefer a soil which is not disturbed by 

 tillage and plowing. They are usu- 

 ally not killed by mowing and crop- 

 ping. Examples are the ox-eye daisy, 

 wild asters, golden rod, dandelion, 



