272 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



Through this acquired habit in seeds many plants are intro- 

 duced into our State every year through wool importation. 

 Fortunately, however, these plants are mostly confined to 

 dump heaps aljout mills, and many of them at the present 

 time have not gained much foothold in Massachusetts. Other 

 sources of weeds are found in the importation of commercial 

 seeds. 



In oat and rye fields are the wild mustard (^Brassica 

 smcq)isiru7n) , chess or cheat (Brovms secalimis) and many 

 other plants. One of the most impure seeds is that of red 

 clover. The weed seeds most common in clover are rib- 

 grass (Plantago lanceolata), sorrel (Humex acetosella) and 

 pigeon-grass (Setaria glauca) . The seeds of white cockle, 

 ragweed, prickly lettuce, pepper-grass, Canada thistle, ox- 

 eye daisy and wild carrot are not infrequent, while those of 

 the dandelion, etc., are often found. 



Occasionally weeds as well as injurious insects and fungi 

 are introduced with nursery stock. 



Hay furnishes an excellent medium for the introduction of 

 various weed seeds, and some of our numerous weeds owe 

 their origin to the introduction of baled hay. Much of the 

 glassware and crockery imported from Europe is packed in 

 hay, and here we have a constant source of contamination. 

 This hay is frequently used a number of times for packing 

 purposes and is distributed to various parts of the country. 



A few of our weeds were first introduced as ornamental 

 plants and have escaped from cultivation. Golden hawk- 

 weed was cultivated 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 determination. In Vermont this 

 plant has, according to Professor Jones, multiplied tenfold 

 in the last decade and from all appearances it has come to 

 stay. 



Chiccory is said to have been introduced for greens by 

 Governor Bowdoin in 1785, and although not abundant in 

 the State it occurs in some localities quite frequently. Purs- 

 lane was introduced 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 Eng- 



