138 Weeds, 



most troublesome of them (L. virosa) 

 appears first to have obtained a foothold on 

 this continent in the Atlantic states, but 

 has traveled v^estward at a rapid rate. It 

 is now common in many sections of the 

 United States. The branches are numerous, 

 and on good soils strong plants will attain 

 the height of from 5 to 6 feet, but on ordi- 

 nary soils the average height will not be 

 more than 3 feet. The blossoms are a pale 

 yellow, and a vigorous plant is capable of 

 bearing from 8,000 to 10,000 seeds. The 

 seeds are provided with a downy attach- 

 ment which enables them to float in the air, 

 hence they may be carried by the winds to 

 almost any distance. 



Wild lettuce comes up early rather than 

 late in the season. It matures its seeds in 

 midsummer. If the plants are cut out 

 before they have reached the blooming stage 

 they will at once send up other branches 

 which in turn will produce seeds. Horses 

 and cattle will crop it off to some extent in 

 pasture, but they are not fond of it. 



Wild lettuce will grow on various soils, 

 but rich loams sustam it in best form. It 

 does not give much trouble in grain crops 

 or cultivated crops, but grows freely in 



