186 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



grown for the seeds, which yield an oil superior to rape seed oil 

 for burning. The stems also yield a coarse fibre which is suitable 

 for sacks, brooms and rough packing paper. The plant is a native 

 of France, introduced with seed to this country, where it has 

 gained only the reputation of a detestable weed. The plant seeds 

 profusely, and a few scattering plants allowed to go to seed would 

 the next season produce an abundant harvest. The best way to 

 get rid of it is careful cultivation in some hoed crop. The plant 

 being an annual would be exterminated if not allowed to seed. 

 It does not seem possible that the seed could have been introduced 

 in Bradley's phosphate as suggested by Mr, Cook. He could 

 satisfy himself on this point perhaps by noticing whether the 

 weed occurs in other fields where Bradley's phosphate was used. 

 It is more probable that a few seeds were introduced last season 

 from some source, and the plants escaped notice, and seeding so 

 abundantly have apparently come suddenly the present season. 

 Their being confined to one side of the field may be explained 

 readily by supposing that the plants which produced the seed for 

 this season's crop grew upon that side of the piece, and that 

 became a centre of distribution, which happened to be the same 

 ground on which the phosphate was used. We should like to 

 know the history of the field, upon which the weed grew, for the 

 last three years, and whether the weed is found elsewhere. Look 

 especially about the railroads, as they bring many weeds in ballast 

 and upon freight, and even the cars themselves transport seeds 

 which the winds have blown upon them. The packing material 

 thrown out by merchants is often the source of introduction of 

 vile weeds. A phosphate might introduce into a field the seed of 

 a weed which had accidentally got into it during transportation, 

 but it would be unjust to hold the phosphate responsible. 

 Orono, Me., Aug. 2nd, 1889. 



F. L. HARVEY, 



Botanist for the Station. 



