32 



A few of our weeds were first introduced as ornamental plants 

 and have escaped from cultivation. Golden hawkweed was culti- 

 vated at the Agricultural College some fifteen years ago, and there 

 are some lingering patches of this plant here which may be seen 

 every year, and it is annually sent in from other sections for de- 

 termination In Vermont this plant has, according to Professor 

 Jones, multiplied tenfold in the last decade and from all appear- 

 ances it has come to stay. 



Chiccory is said to have been introduced for greens by Gover- 

 nor Bowdoin in 1785, and although not abundant in the State it 

 occurs in some localities quite abundantly. Purslane was intro- 

 duced from England for the same purpose as early as 1672. Wild 

 carrot and live-forever were introduced as ornamental plants. 

 Woad waxen was brought from England to Salem in 1628 by Gov- 

 ernor Eudicott for the purpose of dyeing, and now it covers hun- 

 dreds of acres in that vicinity. 



Distribution of Weeds in Massachusetts. 



The condition of the soil, climate and the nature and extent of 

 the industries in Massachusetts are sufficient to exert quite an 

 influence on the distribution of weeds. 



The percentage of sand and chlorine in the soil is greater in 

 the eastern part of the State than in the western, and the eleva- 

 tion is much less marked in the eastern. Then again the popu- 

 lation and the variety and extent of industries are considerably 

 greater in the eastern than in the western part of Massachusetts. 

 These differences in the conditions are sufficient cause for varia- 

 tions in the weed flora. There are many troublesome plants along 

 the coast which are rarely seen in the central or western part of 

 Massachusetts, although the Connecticut valley region furnishes 

 conditions — with the exception of the percentage of chlorine — 

 not dissimilar to those near the coast. In general, we can say 

 that the varieties of weeds increase as we approach the sea-board. 

 There are many plants, however, some of which have been intro- 

 duced for years, that are seldom seen inland. The conditions of 

 soil and climate appear to be uncongenial for their growth. 



The woad waxen (Genista tinctoria), common enough near 

 Salem, is seldom found inland, and the same holds good for the 

 barberry and privet, which grow so abundantly near the coast 

 and which have probably been introduced for two hundred years. 



The cocklebur {Xanthium strumarium) and chess (Bromus tecto- 

 rum) abound in the waste places near Boston. The cocklebur is 

 found inland at times, but the latter plant seldom. Many other 

 weeds might be mentioned which are more abundant in the eastern 

 part of Massachusetts. 



