AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 119 



RIB GRASS, OR ENGLISH PLAINTAIN. 

 Plantago lanceolata, L. 



This weed belongs to the Order Plantaginacece (Plantain Fam- 

 ily) and was introduced from Europe. Plantago comes from the 

 Latin and means sole of the foot. It was originally applied to the 

 door yard plantain, which grows in foot paths. Lanceolata 

 refers to the lance shaped leaves. It may be known by the fol- 

 lowing description : 



Root living from year to year, stem grooved, angular, nine 

 inches to two feet high ; leaves hairy, narrow, three to five ribbed 

 and in a cluster at the root. The flowers small, whitish, borne in 

 a thick short spike at the end of the long flower scape. The pod 

 opens at the top by means of a lid and allows the two oblong boat 

 shaped seeds to escape. These seeds are smaller than clover seed 

 and may be distinguished by the brownish color, oblong shape and 

 hollow or groove on the inner face. They look like a diminutive 

 boat. Attention is especially directed to this weed, as it is being 

 introduced into the State in clover seed. Complaints have been 

 received about fields over run with it, that were seeded to clover. 

 The seeds of the plaintain being smaller and duller colored are liable 

 to escape notice, being hidden by the bright yellow color of the 

 clover seed. Great care should be exercised by farmers in pur- 

 chasing clover seed, so as not to introduce this detestable weed. 

 We hear complaints of its occurrence in other States. Being a 

 perennial it is a hard weed to exterminate. It is hardy and will 

 cover the ground with a mat of leaves. Cultivation in a hoed crop 

 would be the best way to control it. 



Accompanying the Report for 1889 was an envelope containi no- 

 New York Red Clover seed, adulterated with about ten per cent, 

 of Rib Grass seed, (Plantago lanceolata, L.) This seed was pur- 

 chased at a prominent seed store in Maine and was highly recom- 

 mended. It was distribubted that farmers might learn to distin- 

 guish the seed of Rib Grass and avoid it. 



That farmers may recognize this weed when they see it 

 growing, we publish on the opposite page a fine crayon 

 drawing made by Miss Kate Furbish, Brunswick, Me. The plate 

 also shows one of the flowers, and one of the stamens enlarged. 



