69 



WEEDS. 



The principal weeds which infest the fields, and are considered 

 pernicious to agriculture, are the ox-eyed daisy or white weed ; the 

 wood-wax or genista tinctoria ; the Canada thistle ; and the char- 

 lock. The Canada thistle does not much prevail ; and where it is 

 kept constantly mowed, without being permitted to sow its seeds, 

 will, after two or three years, disappear. 



The ox-eyed daisy prevails in some parts to a great extent. High 

 cultivation and much enriching the land, at the time it is laid down 

 to grass, will destroy it, or rather the grass will conquer it ; but, in 

 this case, great care must be taken not to use manure which has been 

 exposed, to be mixed with the seeds. Marine manures, are, in this 

 respect, free from objection. Many farms in the county surrounded 

 with fields infested by it, are perfectly free from it. They are kept 

 clean, by extreme vigilance, and personal attention, in destroying at 

 once, all the plants that appear. 



The wood-wax, [genista tinctoria^) prevails principally in Dan- 

 vers, and in the parts of Salem, adjoining Danvers. It spreads rap- 

 idly where not checked, and destroys all the grass, where it prevails. 

 Ploughing will destroy it ; but in most of the pasture lands, where it 

 prevails, all cultivation is impracticable. One persevering farmer 

 has destroyed it by actually digging up the roots with a hoe and pick- 

 axe, wherever the plants appear. Another has destroyed it by cov- 

 ering it completely with meadow hay or litter, thus smothering it and 

 stopping its growth for a whole season, when it would disappear. 

 The hay was afterwards raked off, and used for littering the stalls and 

 yards. It is usually burnt on the ground in the winter, when the 

 condition of the ground admits of access to it. This checks, but 

 does not destroy it ; and is thought to injure the land, besides losing 

 the litter which would otherwise go to increase the manure heap. It 

 grows luxuriantly, and a farmer in Danvers has lately discovered a 

 valuable use for it in soiling sheep. It is cut green, and carried into 

 their yards ; and some of it is cut and cured for winter. The sheep 

 are said to be fond of it ; and to be kept fat by it. This is reported 

 to me on credible authority. I regret that I did not hear of it in 

 season to see the sheep, and the way in which the fodder is cured. 



