10 



FARM FRIENDS AND FARM FOES 



height of several feet and produces in its curious capsules 

 vast numbers of the tiny seeds, which may be blown long 

 distances by violent winds. It may be suc- 

 cessfully kept in check by repeated mowings 

 close to the ground. 



The little plant called Sundrops seems like 

 the Evening Primrose in miniature. It is 

 often abundant along roadsides, and fre- 

 quently spreads to adjacent fields, where it is 

 especially troublesome in broadcasted grain 

 and forage crops. Thorough tillage in corn, 

 cabbage, or some other hoed crop is the best 

 way to rid a field of it. 



A great variety of other plants are likely 

 to appear as more or less noxious weeds along 

 roadsides. Familiar examples in many of the 

 states are found in Teasel, Elecampane, and 

 Butter-and-Eggs. Each of these may occa- 

 sionally become troublesome in cultivated fields if left un- 

 molested along the roadsides, but they are comparatively 

 easy to keep in check by attention at the proper season. 



Some common roadside weeds have escaped from culti- 

 vation. The majority of these are likely to be plants 

 formerly grown in flower gardens, although most of them 

 are now displaced by more attractive flowers. Throughout 

 New England, the pinkish blossoms of Bouncing Bet, or 

 Soapwort, are likely to be seen along the roadside near 

 an abandoned homestead. In early times this plant evi- 

 dently was a garden favorite and it remains along the 

 roadside, though it seldom becomes really troublesome 

 as a weed. 



In a similar way, the curious Cypress Spurge, the Day 

 Lily, and the Live-forever are commonly seen along the 



