Extirpation of IVeeds. 847 



■ 29. Corn poppy (Papaver rbaasj, an annual plant, producing numerous small 

 seeds, sometimes very abundant in corn-fields, and a preiiy sure indication of a 

 light crop. Query, is the lightness of the crop occasioned by the abundance of this 

 plant, or the increase of this plant encouraged by the lightness of the crop? Pro- 

 bably both: in a full crop it is scarcely to be found; its flowers appear in July. 

 It might, doubdess, be weakened or destroyed in fallows, by encouraging an early 

 vegetation in common with other seedlings. 



30. Corn crowfoot (Ranunculus arvensis); sometimes very abundant and inju- 

 rious to a wheat crop on strong moist land : an annual plant of early growdi, which 

 can only be brought into vegetation in the fallow by an early tillage; otherwise 

 the growth of the seeds is deferred to the next spring, to the great injury of the 

 crop. It is observed in the Flora Rustica, that " in some countries it has the 

 name of hungerweed, whence it is supposed to indicate a barren soil." The ortho- 

 graphy, however, is not derived from the nature of the soil, but from the hungry 

 prospect it holds out to the farmer. 



31. Dee nettle, dead nettle (Lamium album and purpureum), much abounding- 

 amongst crops on some lands, particularly in moist seasons ; being perennial plants 

 produced both from seeds and roots, great pains should be used in their extirpation. 



32. Calves snout (Antirrhinum orontium) : I observed this plant not uncommon 

 amongst corn crops in Hampshire in the summer of 1795, and being in some 

 doubt about it, sent a specimen to Dr. Withering for his investigation. A poison- 

 ous plant ; (Linnaeus). It appears from Withering's Botany, that other specie of 

 this genus are also common in corn-fields ; as the sharp-pointed fluellin (Antirrhi^ 

 niim elatinej,{he round-leaved snap dragon (Antirrhinum spuriumj, the corn snap 

 diagnn (Antirrhinum arvensej,thc]eastsmp dragon (Antirrhinum minus); these I 

 have not personally examined ; they are all annuals ; whilst the other species of this 

 genus, common in hedges and on walls, as the Antirrhinum cymbalaria, ripens^ 

 liiiaria, and majus, are hardy, and strict perennials. 



33. Shepherd's purse, shepherd's pouch (Thlaspi arvense, campestre, and buna 

 pastorisj; well known as sometimes troublesome weeds on arable land: annual 

 plants, of eaily appearance, and continuing great part of the year. To be destroyed 

 by eaily and well managed fallowing, or by rooting up. 



34. Whidow grass (Draba verna). 



35. Codded mouse-ear ( Arabis tbaliani). Both these are small diminuiive 



