136 Weeds. 



The burdock is propagated solely by 

 means of its seed, which is possessed of 

 much vitality. It is very generally distrib- 

 uted through the agency of domestic ani- 

 mals, to the hair and wool of which its 

 seeds most readily adhere. If a burdock 

 plant is left undisturbed, so that its seeds 

 ripen upon its stems, it sheds them upon 

 the ground about it, and there they will 

 continue to give trouble for years after. 



Modes of Eradication. 



The following are the modes of eradica- 

 tion that have been found most successful 

 in dealing with the burdock : 



/. In cultivated fields. Where the bur- 

 dock is found in cultivated fields, it will of 

 course be cut off with the hay or grain 

 amid which it grows. When thus cut 

 during the first year of its growth, the 

 plant is but little injured, and when mowed 

 off during the second year it at once pushes 

 up fresh stems and ripens its seeds in great 

 numbers, as already mentioned. Although 

 the farmer may not notice this, the ripened 

 burs will not fail to find lodgment in the 

 hair of his cattle and the wool of his sheep 

 when they feed upon the aftermath or 



