CHOOSING YOUR OWN WEEDS 177 



root and a top that comes off when you don't 

 want it to as easily as one of those patent inter- 

 changeable umbrella handles, was the next con- 

 testant, and Mr. Phytolacca put up a hard fight 

 before he assumed a relation of only occasional 

 presence. Every bit of a root seemed to make a 

 new plant, and particularly in shady corners did 

 these flourish and flaunt and flower and seed. 



I had all the broad-leaved docks uprooted that 

 first season, I thought. It was but a vain thought, 

 however, for there were more of them next season, 

 and the next. Ever try to dig a good husky dock, 

 Gentle Reader? Then you know how easily and 

 comfortably its soft top comes away, leaving a 

 root only encouraged to reach deeper by temporary 

 relief from foliage ! Along the east end of the long 

 arborvitse hedge there was so much of both the 

 pervading docks that I thought they would be 

 exterminating each other, because of lack of food. 

 I had again forgotten that there was plenty of 

 room toward the center of the earth, and that the 

 Rumex family is not particular as to soil quality, 

 or shade, or sun, or moisture. Any old corner 

 will do as well as the center of the lawn, and there 

 will be dock prosperity in both. 



The next battle was with "shepherd's-purse," a 

 rather neat-looking affair resembling sweet alyssum 



