SOME RECENTLY INTRODUCED WEEDS. 21 



followed the Intercolonial and the Canadian Pacific across Xew 

 Brunswick and Xova Scotia, and has even reached the Boston 

 and Maine system near Portland. This plant is charged in the 

 Maritime Provinces not only ^dth being an enemy to the farmer, 

 but with causing asthma and hay fever, so that, in spite of its 

 showy display of yellow, it is an unwelcome traveler along the 

 i-ailroads. Other railroads entering New England from Quebec, 

 New York, and other large centers are bringing with them their 

 full share of vegetable vagabonds, for it is an interesting fact 

 that the different large ports — Boston, Xew York, Philadelphia, 

 Halifax, Quebec, etc.— have become centers for the establish- 

 ment of very different Old World plants. 



It is ti-ue that many of the foreign plants which are rapidly 

 establishing themselves in Xew England are of certain economic 

 value, and much has been done to raise the self-respect of these 

 plants by the recent publication by the United States Department 

 of Agriculture of a bulletin (Farmers' Bulletin Xo. 188) on the 

 medicinal uses of some of them. But at best they are not a sat- 

 isfactory crop, and as weeds they occupy space which should be 

 put to better service. 



Briefly summarized, the points I have attempted to make clear 

 are, that the cutting away of forests produces conditions which 

 are fatal to many woodland species, but which give an increased 

 opportunity for development to plants which thrive best. in the 

 open. In the occupancy of this newly opened land the coarse 

 and vigorous plants of Europe bred through long contact with 

 civilization have a tremendous advantage over the less aggressive 

 American species or varieties. These European weeds reach us 

 in various manners, the seed often clinging to the clothes or the 

 shoes of the traveler, or finding their way into field or garden 

 crops. Others have originateil from garden plants carelesslv 

 allowed to spread to adjacent fields, while many come to us in 

 ship ballast or in the wool sent for manufacture at our mills. 



The problem presented by these plants is a serious one. There 

 is no need for me to emphasize its importance to the ])ractical 

 agriculturist, but I may be ])ermitted to call attention particularly 

 to a point which appeals immediately to the l)otanist and the 

 lover of nature. That is the danger which this rapid encroach- 



