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MORE ABOUT WEEDS 



from six inches to three feet, branching profusely, and, 

 when not crowded, often forms a dense, brushlike plant 

 from two to six feet in width, and from one half to two 

 thirds as high. When young, it is a very harmless look- 

 ing plant, tender and juicy throughout, with small, nar- 

 row, downy, green leaves. When the dry weather comes 

 in August, the tender, downy leaves wither and fall, 

 and the plant increases rapidly in size, sending out hard, 



FIG. 77. Russian thistle. The above plant was fully three feet in diameter. 



stiff branches. Instead of leaves, these branches bear 

 at intervals of half an inch or less, three sharp spines, 

 which harden, but do not grow dull, as the plant increases 

 in size and ugliness. The spines are from a quarter to 

 a half inch in length. At the base of each cluster of 

 spines, is a papery flower about one eighth of an inch in 

 width. If this be taken out and carefully pulled to pieces, 

 a small, pulpy, green body, coiled up and appearing like a 

 tiny green snail shell, will be found. This is the seed. 

 As the seed ripens, it becomes hard and of a rather dull- 

 gray color. At the earliest frost, the plants change in 



