174 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 



roots that penetrate almost any kind of soil. Tlie only sure method of 

 exterminating it, is to dig it up and burn it. There is one good quality — 

 it will live and thrive where other varieties would soon perish. Cattle are 

 fond of it, and in barren lands, where other grasses would not thrive, this 

 might be used with profit. Where any other variety will grow, keep this 

 out. 



*' Cirsium Arvensis, (Cnieus of the old Botanist) Canada Thistle, Peren- 

 nial. We have but little trouble with this plant on Long Island, but in 

 some parts of the country, it is the greatest pest known among plants. 

 The root passes so deep in the soil that the plow does not reach it, therefore 

 it is very difficult to eradicate it with ordinary means. A great varietj; of 

 ways have been recommended to destroy it. Very few of them are of any 

 practical use. Salt or potash will kill it, if applied in large quantities, 

 and the soil will be benefited in after years by the application. If the soil 

 is cultivated for two or three years in succession with hard crops, and the 

 plant is not allowed to bring its leaves in contact with light and air, it 

 will certainly perish. This is the cheapest and most practical method of 

 exterminating this pest of the farm that we know of. If your neighbors 

 allow their plants to produ.ce seed, your labor will be in vain. There are 

 several other varieties of thistle in this vicinity which are somewhat trouble- 

 some, but, as they are only biennial, they are easily got rid of if we do 

 not allow them to produce seed. 



" Leucanthemum Vulgare," — Oxeye Daisy — Perennial. This is another 

 great pest, and when it gets into grass lands it will spread until it gets 

 entire possession. It produces an immense quantity of seed, which the 

 wind scatters to a great distance. It is easily destroyed by thorough 

 plowing or hoeing. 



*' Rumex Acetosella" — Field Sorrel — Perennial. This plant seems to 

 thrive best on light loamy soils that are deficient in lime. A good appli- 

 cation of lime scattered on the plant in wet weather will in most cases de- 

 stroy it. When it once gets its roots in among garden plants or among 

 grass in light soils, it takes thorough and severe means to exterminate it. 



The "May Weed," a very-common plant in all the country, is another 

 pest of all the farmers of the Eastern States, though it does not infest the 

 fields as much as it does the road sides, and yards, and lots about the house 

 and farm buildings. 



Asclepias (from ^sculapius) horned, and nigra, and here is another pest, 

 smilax rotundifolia. 



The " Milk weed," so common in all rich fence rows, is a pest, but not 

 very bad among crops. It is a great blot upon the good looks of a farm, 

 and its light seeds are very easily wafted over the fields b}^ the wind. These 

 are only a few of the pests called weeds. 



Now, what we want is, how to eradicate these pests : all our labor at 

 this season is devoted to extirpating weeds. This list embraces only a 

 Bniall portion of them ; their name is legion. 



The Chafrman. — As to eradicating these noxious weeds, it can only be 



