WEEDS OF GARDENS AND FIELDS 41 



Virginia. It was a very distinctive species with good- 

 sized, dark green leaves, large white flowers, and curiously 

 spined fruit capsules. It had a decidedly disagreeable 

 odor, and was found to be very 

 poisonous. So the plant became 

 well known, and when it spread 

 to the gardens of the surrounding 

 region, it was called Jamestown 

 Weed, a name that was gradually 

 contracted to Jimson Weed, by 

 which it is now generally known. 



It is also called Thorn Apple, Jamestown Lily, Apple of 

 Peru, and Mad-apple. Possibly the last name is due to 

 the fact that infusions of leaves have been used for the 

 cure of hydrophobia. Or it may be due to the fact that 

 the plant when eaten produces convulsions and delirium. 



In addition to the white-flowering Jimson weed, there is 

 a very similar purple-flowering species. Both are annuals 

 from the tropics, and are especially abundant in the South- 

 ern states. Nearly every year children are poisoned by 

 eating the seeds. These plants should be destroyed wher- 

 ever they are seen. 



There are several creeping plants that are troublesome 

 as weeds. One of the worst of these is called the Hedge 

 Bindweed or Wild Morning Glory. Its rootstock is peren- 

 nial, while the stem and leaves die down every autumn. 

 Its leaves are somewhat arrow-shaped, and its white or 

 purplish flowers bear a general resemblance to those of the 

 cultivated Morning Glory. It is especially troublesome on 

 low moist land. 



The Wild Morning Glory is propagated both by seeds 

 and by the spreading of underground roots. On account 

 of these roots it is a difficult weed to eradicate. Hoeing 



