THE PINK FAMILY 



65 



some owing to a poisonous principle in the plant and seeds. 

 When eaten in quantity, the seeds are poisonous to young 

 chickens. 



Remedy: Sow clean seed wheat. It is quickly suppressed 

 and ultimately eradicated on lands brought under a short rota- 

 tion of crops. In eastern Canada, when this weed is abundant, 

 wheat should be omitted from the rotation for four years. 



In the Prairie Provinces, harrowing the grain crop just 

 before it emerges from the ground and again when it is three 

 inches high keeps down this weed. Where the land is infested 

 with Purple Cockle, a thorough summer-fallow is the best method 

 of getting rid of it. Preparation for a summer-fallow should 

 start in the fall, by cultivating the land immediately after 

 harvest. This can be accomplished by having the disc follow 

 immediately behind the binder and thus cultivate the open strip 

 between the standing grain and the sheaves. Early in the 

 spring the land should again be disced or harrowed, to start the 

 weeds as early as possible. The plowing should be deep and 

 should be begun as soon as seeding is completed and finished 

 not later than the end of June. Harrow immediately after 

 plowing and repeat from time to time during the summer. 

 Hand-pull any Purple Cockle, that may be found in the crop 

 after the summer-fallowing. Hand-pulling is also practicable 

 when this weed first makes its appearance. 



Besides the plough and hoe, the sweeping scythe 

 Will much avail to wage the weeding war. 

 If o'er your leas the yellow ragwort spread 

 A gaudy forest ; or the seedy dock 

 Uprear its stalk prolific; or the tribe 

 Of thistles fenced with prickly arms, spare not 

 The emblem dear, but ruthless lay it low, 

 With all its brother cumberers of the ground: 

 For, if allowed to stand, the down-winged seed 

 Flies far, a pastime to your plaj-fjil elves, 

 To you a cause of meikle loss and bale. 

 Let none of all the intrusive race even form 

 ,Their seed; for know the fructifjdng stage 

 Of v^etation most exhausts the soil; 

 And, though cut down before they shed their fruit, 

 Mixed with the compost mound, they but create 

 A magazine of poisons for your fields. 



-James Grahame, British Georgics, 1812. 



