THE MUSTARD FAMILY 



91 



bulky nature of the plants prevents the elevation of the grain 

 in self-binders and greatly increases the amount of binder twine 

 required. The broken seed pods, containing the seeds, are 

 common in oats and reduce the market value of the grain. 



Remedy: Sow clean seed grain. Hand-pull if at all prac- 

 ticable. If the weed has become established, a summer-fallow, 

 with thorough cultivation at short intervals, will greatly reduce 

 it. Hoed crops with clean cultivation, followed by a fodder 

 crop, such as mixed grain to cut green, before Wild Radish 

 has passed the flowering stage,* with early clover for pasture 

 or hay the third year and a grass crop for hay the fourth year, 

 is a rotation that will prevent this weed from seeding and will 

 ultimately suppress it. If grain is desired after a hoed crop, 

 it would be well to defer spring seeding and give thorough 

 cultivation with the disc and broad-shared cultivator until the 

 soil is sufficiently warm to produce a vigorous growth; then 

 sow early-maturing, six-rowed barley, at the rate of three bushels 

 per acre, and harvest the crop on the green side. If weather 

 permits, apply the weeder or harrow when the barley commences 

 to show above the surface, and again when the crop is from three 

 to six inches high. The harrow will destroy most of the seedling 

 plants of this and other annuals. The clover and grass seed 

 should be sown in front of the harrow at the last application. 

 Examine imported seeds for the broken pods of this weed. 

 Sheep feed readily on the young plants of Wild Radish and if 

 their pasture is short will prevent it from seeding. 



Small herbs have grace; great weeds do grow apace: 

 .... Sweet flowers are slow, and weeds make haste. 



Shakespeare, Richard III, Act II, sc. iv, 1594. 



In the later ende of Maj' is tyme to wede thy corne. There be divers maner of 

 wedes, as thistles, kedlokes (charlock), dockes, code, damolde, gouldes, and dog fenell. 

 The thystle is an yll wede, and there be other wedes, as dee nettylles, dodder, and 

 suche other that doo moche hanne. 



John Fitzherberts, Bohe of Husbondry, 1523. 



