Description of Wild Mustard. idi 



ilar weeds of the mustard family, such as 

 peppergrass, shepherd's purse, and the wild 

 radish. 



(l) WILD MUSTARD. 



Wild mustard (Brassica arvensis) is one 

 of the most difficult weeds to dislodge found 

 on this continent, when once it gets a strong 

 foothold in the soil. Owing to the extraor- 

 dinary vitality of its seeds, a very long time 

 is required to completely effect its removal 

 from any soil infested by it, for the reason 

 that for years and years the seeds lying in 

 the soil continue to germinate with each 

 successive cultivation that may happen to 

 bring them near the surface. 



Wild mustard is an annual plant which, 

 in the earlier stages of its growth, bears 

 some resemblance to the radish and to the 

 yellow-fleshed varieties of the turnip. It 

 has a spreading, fibrous root, as shown in 

 the sketch. Its stem is more or less 

 branched, according as it is crowded or not 

 when growing, and it bears a bright yellow 

 blossom, which can be seen at a consider- 

 able distance. Its seeds resemble those of 

 the turnip so closely that they cannot easily 

 be distinguished from them, and thev also 



