FARM FRIENDS AND FARM FOES 



BUCKWHEAT AND PLANTAIN FAMILIES 



The most familiar members of the Buckwheat family are 

 the sorrels, docks, and smartweeds. These all have small 

 flowers and the triangular akenes characteristic of the 

 family. 



Two species of Dock are abundant and widely distrib- 

 uted weeds. These are the Curled Dock, Sour Dock, or 

 Yellow Dock, and the Bitter Dock or 

 Broad-leaved Dock. The former is 

 easily distinguished by its comparatively 

 narrow curled leaves. The Curled Dock 

 is often used for " greens," but the 

 Broad-leaved Dock is so bitter that it is 

 not used for this purpose. Both of these 

 species are likely to be troublesome in 

 wet places especially along the roadsides 

 and fences, and can be eradicated only 

 by extermination of the roots. These 

 contain so much stored-up nutriment, 

 that if the plants are simply pulled up 

 and left upon the surface of the ground, 

 the seeds often mature ; consequently 

 it is better to burn the plants or at least 

 to cut the stalk away from the roots. 



On account of the way in which the Broad-leaved Plantain 

 springs up wherever civilized man appears, the American 

 Indians used to call it White Man's Foot. It is the most 

 abundant representative of the Plantain family, though in 

 fields of grain and forage crops the Narrow-leaved Plantain 

 is more troublesome. 



The Broad-leaved Plantain is a sturdy, vigorous plant, 

 well adapted to crowding out others in the struggle for 



BROAD-LEAVED\\ DOCK 



