CHAPTER VII. 



METHODS OF ERADICATING WEEDS OF THE 

 MUSTARD FAMILY. 



The mustard family contains a large 

 number of troublesome weeds, such as wild 

 mustard, false flax, French weed or penny- 

 cress, peppergrass, shepherd's purse, and 

 wild radish, as-well as some of our common 

 garden vegetables, as the cabbage, cauli- 

 flower and turnip. The plants of this fam- 

 ily may be recognized by the shape of the 

 flowers, as the parts are in fours in oppo- 

 site pairs, forming a cross. The flowers, 

 which are usually white or yellow, are 

 borne on stems (foot-stalks) which usually 

 arise from a cluster of leaves at the base. 

 They are closely clustered at the ends of 

 the branches, which gradually lengthen into 

 long racemes, with all stages from the 

 unopened flower buds above to ripe seeds 

 at the base. The leaves and stems usually 

 have a decided odor when crushed. Most 

 of the plants of this family are annuals or 



