LUTHER BURBANK 



species which has lately been seen in many public 

 grounds, and is rapidly spreading to farms and 

 gardens. This new weed, unlike the annual, sends 

 down long slender roots deeply into the soil and 

 if cut off, no matter how deeply, will immediately 

 sprout with redoubled vigor. 



But this is not the worst. 



Like the annual, its sole object seems to be to 

 produce enormous quantities of seeds. This new 

 pest trails instead of growing upright and begins 

 to produce seed almost as soon as the plants 

 appear above ground. This seed production is 

 continued as long as the plant lives. 



The only method of destroying this is to cut 

 off the first plants which appear, and apply a small 

 quantity of salt or sulphate of iron on the cut 

 portion of the root, at the same time burning every 

 portion of the plant removed. 



Mustard, wild radish, and wild lettuce, though 

 annuals, are often difficult to exterminate as they 

 are abundant seed producers. The best method of 

 exterminating these is to destroy each plant before 

 they have time to ripen seed. 



Usually it is possible partially to rid the land of 

 them by plowing it thoroughly early in the spring 

 and growing some cultivated crop. 



Sheep sorrel or red weed, sometimes called 

 "shamrock," is another most persistent weed, very 



[268] 



