Extirpation of Weeds. 5549 



Reports, which, for want of an index, I cannot now refer to, that this plant has 

 made great progress in their corn-fields, and is considered as a very formidable 

 weed. All the parts of this plant are considerably acrid, and have a rank disagree- 

 able smell, whence it is called by the farmers who have it, slinhweed. It may, 

 doubtless be destoyed by the process above recommended for chadlock. 



40. Fumitory (Fumaria ojjiicinalisj ; not uncommon in corn-fields, but not very 

 pernicious: an annual plant. 



41. Rest harrow (O)Wfi is arvensis and spinosaj; not uncommon in arable lands 

 where there are no very desirable plants. The arvensis is common in this country 

 amongst corn, and an hardy perennial plant ; if the root can be destroyed in the 

 fallow, there is litde danger from the seeds : the roots are so strong as almost to stop 

 the plough, unless the team be pretty strong. The spinosa I have often seen at a 

 distance from hence, but it is unknown in this neighbourhood. 



42. Tare (Ervum fetraspermum and hirsutum). The tare is a terrible enemy to a 

 wheat crop, where it abounds in considerable quantity ; " in wet seasons whole 

 fields of corn have been overpowered and wholly destroyed by it." Withering. 

 Care should be taken that seed wheat be perfecdy free from tares ; and all land 

 subject to it, should if possible be got so forward in the fallow, as to bring on the 



vegetation of this plant previous to sowing the wheat; the seeds are good food for 



pigeons, and poultry. 



43. Meiilot (Trijoliiim melilotus officinalis), a very injurious corn-weed in many 

 parts of the kingdom. Mr, Miller, marks Cambridgeshire, and Gerard, Essex, for 

 abundance of it. I have heard of it in Bedforshire, and seen it amongst corn in 

 Gloucestershire, and Rutlandshire ; in the latter county I was informed that five or 

 six shillings per acre has sometimes been expended in weeding it out, without 

 effecting the purpose, W. P. There cannot be a worse weed among bread corn, 

 for a few of the seeds ground with it spoil the flour, by communicating their 

 peculiarly strong taste ; Flora Riistica. It flowers in June, and July, and the seeds 

 ripen with the corn ; it is probably capable of propagating itself, bodi by its roots 

 and seeds, but might doubtless be much weakened by proper fallowing : horses 

 are very fond of it ; cows, sheep, and swine eat it, and bees are very fond of the 

 flowers, it is therefore, though a corn weed, a good pasture plant. 



44. Sow thistle (Sonchiis arvensis J, a perennial weed, common amongst corn, 

 which when it occurs ought to be drawn up by hand, before it ripens its seed; 

 VOL. v. K k 



