168 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



38. Tarweed. — This belongs to the Composite family, the 

 same as our common dandelion and white weed. It is a stout, 

 erect plant, 3 feet high, with numerous lanceolate leaves, and 

 yellow ilowers. The stem is covered with glandular hairs which 

 exude a viscid substance making it exceeding sticky, from which 

 it has received the name of Tarweed. When green it has a strong, 

 heavy odor due to some volatile liquid which is dissipated in dry- 

 ing. It is an annual, and seeds itself if allowed to mature. 

 Blossomed Aug. 27. 



39. Giant Spurry. — The following accompanied the seed : 

 "Grown to serve as pasture for cattle, imparting a fine flavour 



to mutton, and enriching the milk of cows. Its foliage is of a 

 pleasant green color and delicate texture ; it soon establishes 

 itself, and possesses the recommendation of retaining its verdure 

 in the dryest and hottest season." 



This is very much like the common spurry, (Spergula arvensis,) 

 which is a weed in crops, and seems to have the same habits. It 

 continues to blossom and ripen its seeds all the season, thus pro- 

 ducing an enormous quantity, which sprout and grow very readily. 

 It doubtless has some good qualities, but once introduced it would 

 be diflScult to get rid of, and should therefore be treated as a 

 weed. Blossomed July 25, two months from sowing. Height 

 15 inches. 



Remarks. 



The hay crop in this State is our most valuable one. It can 

 easily be increased in quantity, and improved in quality. Some 

 of the best grasses and forage plants are scarcely cultivated in 

 Maine, and it is the purpose of the Station to test their adapta- 

 bility to our soil and climate, and call the attention of farmers to 

 those that seem worthy of cultivation. We quote from two 

 writers as follows: "The importance of introducing new grasses, 

 and efforts to improve those already cultivated, cannot be over- 

 estimated. It is not at all certain that we have the best kinds, nor 

 that those we have are brought to the greatest degree of perfec- 

 tion. Doubtless they may be improved, as well as fruits and live 

 stock." 



"A dozen sorts, probably, cover nineteen-twentieths of all the 

 meadow land from Maine to Texas. It can hardly be supposed 

 that so limited a number meets, in the beet manner possible, all 



