No 144.] 163 



down as a noxious weed — first, because it is poisonous, and unfit 

 for a social or domestic plant, as such are sometimes termed — se- 

 cond, because it reproduces itself in immense numbers by its nu- 

 merous large seeds, and is an annual, coming up among cultivat- 

 ed crops, overshadowing all less developed neighbors. On the 

 other hand it is medicinal, being in use in pharmacy for very im- 

 portant purposes, and called commonly thorn apple. I may add 

 that it has been collected in South America and sent home neatly 

 papered up as a rare and beautiful plant of the Amazons. It has 

 clandestinely introduced itself to almost all British gardens in 

 the papers of annual seeds sent there. The climate, however, 

 does not suit it, and though it vegetates and survives it never 

 flourishes as a weed, and, therefore, is not noxious to the cultiva- 

 tion there. I have, perhaps, attached more importance to this 

 individual plant than I should have done. It illustrates the sub- 

 ject better than by running over a whole list. You may then de- 

 signate those plants as noxious weeds which are out of their 

 sphere, that is, springing up spontaneously where they are a nui- 

 sance to the husbandman, and of so little value to the community 

 as not to render their preservation desirable. I would class as 

 noxious weeds — The Jamestown weed— the Jirsesmart, vulgarly so 

 called; the Groundset — Senecio vulgaris; the Common Dock — 

 Rumex domestica; Purslane — Portulacca; Arahrosta artemiscopo- 

 lies or groundsel; Fumitory^ or Fumaria officinalis; Corn Poppy — 

 Papaver phocos, easily destroyed by clear seed ; Leguminous weeds 

 — Chick Peas — reum texvasporm; Tares — Crowfoot — Ranunculus 

 repens; R. tuberosus acris; Sceleratus; Wood Plants — Chimaphiles; 

 Pyrola monesis ; Saxifraga Pennsylvania ; Thalictrum anemon- 

 oides. 



Chester Coleman, of Brooklyn — Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen 

 of the Club — It is a remark oft repeated, yet no less true than 

 trite, " that the farmer's manure heap is his gold mine." It has 

 again been called his " bank;" but, sir, if all the delvers for that 

 substance, or all the financiers of our land, were to pursue a 

 course as inconsistent in their operations as that of the genera. 

 practice of farmers throughout our country, in the accumulation 

 and in securing from waste their manure, the agriculturists them- 



