156 THE JXDUXA WEED BOOK. 



into pastures which have heretofore been entirely free from it. 

 Taking into consideration that it is a native plant and therefore 

 well suited to our soil ; the character of its roots ; the immense 

 number of seeds produced; the modes of their dissemination, and 

 its almost total exemption from the attacks of injurious insects, it 

 is no wonder that it is so well able to hold its own in the struggle 

 for existence, and also to increase in numbers from year to year. 

 Kemedies: mowing or hoe-cutting four times (in May, June, July 

 and August) each season, thus preventing the leaves from storing 

 nourishment in the roots: deep hoe-cutting and salting; thorough 

 cultivation where practicable. The first remedy Avill, if kept up 

 for two or three years, practically eradicate the weed. 



It has been said that all things in nature have their use that 

 nothing exists but for a purpose. It is the work of science to dis- 

 cover and make known the use of nature's objects, and day by day 

 her secrets are gradually being exposed, thereby advancing man in 

 civilization by enabling him to better control the ravages of those 

 existing forms which are injurious to his interests. If, however, 

 the iron-weed has a use, other than that shown in the beauty of 

 its flowers, no one has yet discovered it. But there is time, for of 

 the thousands of plant forms which exist, we know the uses of only 

 a few, as corn and hemp, ginseng and blood-root. Let us hope that 

 some valuable medicinal or other property will soon be discovered 

 in the iron-weed and a reason for its existence thereby pointed out 

 to the doubting humanity of the present. 



Meanwhile the naturalist will go on admiring the beauty of its 

 bloom ; for however coarse and repulsive the stem and leaves may 

 appear, each head, with its 25 or 30 dainty florets so prettily 

 grouped within their protective cup, reveals a striking beauty to 

 the true lover of nature. And when in the glamour of an August 

 morn he stands upon a hillside and views acre upon acre of the 

 broad purple cymes waving in the valley beneath, all memories of 

 the plant as a pernicious Aveed are blotted from his mind by the at- 

 tractiveness of the scene before him. 



110. Ei'PATORiuM PURPUREUM L. Jo-pye-weed. Trumpet-weed. Purple 



P.oneset. (P. X. 3.) 



Stem erect, simple or branched at top, green or purple. 3-12 feet 

 high; leaves thin, in whorls of 3-0, oval or lanceolate, stalked, pointed, 

 sharply toothed, 4-12 inches long. Heads numerous in a more or less 

 elongated, branched cluster, 5-15 ilowered ; involucre cylindrical, the 

 bracts pink, oblong, in 4 or 5 closely overlapping rows; flowers pinkish or 

 reddish-purple. Achenes 5-angled. (Fig. 115.) 



