6 FARM WEEDS OF CANADA 



tainlng only to those plants that are commonly characterized as weeds, 

 it will be obvious that several plant f amiUes of i mportance in the study 

 of the science of botany, are not treated with in this publication. Nor 

 has it seemed practicable to illustrate, describe or even mention more 

 than those species that are known to be quite widely distributed and 

 generally troublesome weeds in Canada. 



Some of the weeds herein illustrated and described have been 

 introduced within recent years, and it is to be expected that many 

 others and equally troublesome weeds may be introduced from time 

 to time and distributed in future years. Additional information 

 concerning weeds and methods of combating them will doubtless 

 also accrue from further research work. It is thought reasonable to 

 expect that later revised editions of "Farm Weeds" may be necessary 

 to bring it up to date for future years. 



"Farm Weeds of Canada" was one of the last of the many con- 

 tributions to agriculture from the late Dr. James Fletcher. It is 

 desired that this second edition of the book will further perpetuate 

 to his memory that large measure of appreciation of his unselfish 

 personality and zeal for useful service which he so richly deserved. 



Recognition for much arduous detail work in the compilation 

 and revision of the descriptions of weeds and weed seeds as contained 

 in this volume is due to Mr. George Michaud, Botanist in charge of the 

 Seed Laboratory. Valuable assistance was rendered by Prof. John 

 Macoun, who was frequently consulted in connection with the work 

 of re-classification and botanical nomenclature. Information as to 

 the best methods that may be employed in the control and extermin- 

 ation of particular weeds was provided by many experts in the practice 

 of agriculture, among them being T. G. Raynor, W. C. McKillican, 

 J. H. Grisdale, Henry Glendenning, T. N. WilUng, T. B. R. Henderson, 

 Angus MacKay, S. A. Bedford, James Murray, W. H. Fairfield and 

 Archibald Mitchel. 



The illustrations of farm implements to destroy weeds were 

 selected with a view to show the type of implements referred to in the 

 text. There are numerous implements of approximately the same 

 general type, but of somewhat different design, which are equally 

 desirable and effective as weed destroyers. 



Numerous quotations from old writings which treat with farm 

 weeds and other plants are inserted in space not required for the prin- 

 cipal text. The quotations from Tusser, Grahame, Jethro TuU, 

 Sinclair, Dickson, Worlidge, Fitzherberts, Hale and Blith were con- 

 tributed by Principal R. Patrick Wright, Glasgow, Scotland, and R. B. 

 Greig, Marischal College, Aberdeen, Scotland. The subject matter as 

 well as the text itself of many of the oldest of the quotations will 

 doubtless prove interesting and some of them even instructive when 

 studied in relation to the subject matter of this volume. They may 

 convey to the mind of the reader a fairly clear idea of the general 

 knowledge of plants that was possessed by the students of the 

 natural sciences in past centuries. 



S. A. F. G. H. C. 



