180 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



pulverized and mixed with lard to form an ointment much used 

 for healing sores. The plant may be known by the long, funnel- 

 shaped, white corolla, with a large five to ten toothed plaited bor- 

 der ; the large, globular, prickly seed pod, four celled at the bot- 

 tom ; the large, flat seeds, and the ovate, ill-scented foliage. The 

 flowers are borne on short peduncles in the forks of the branching 

 stems. The plant is a member of the order Solonacece to which 

 the potato, tomato and tobacco belong. It is closeby related to 

 Datura (Brngmansia) arborea, a shrubby plant bearing white 

 Datura-Yike blossoms fully six inches long and grown as a house 

 plant in Maine and called Wedding Bell. Those who have access 

 to the U. S. Agr'l Rept. for 1889, will find this plant figured on 

 PI. VII in the Report of the Botanist. 



White Radish or Jointed Charlock. 



RapJianus raphanistrum , L. 



The following letter from Mr. Abbott, together with the re- 

 sponse, being of general interest, are recorded. 



West Paris, Me., Jan. 2, 1890. 

 W. II. Jordan. 



Dear Sir : — I send you some oats with which are some seeds 

 that are new to me. Can you tell me what they are ? They are 

 Western oats such as are brought here by the car load for feed. 

 Very Respectfully, 



A. J. ABBOTT. 



Response. 



Orono, Me., Jan. 9, '91. 

 Mr. A. J. Abbott, 



West Paris, Me. 

 Dear Sir : — Your letter and package were handed me by Prof. 

 Jordan for consideration. The foreign matter in the oats sent 

 consists of the pods and included seeds of Raplianus Raphanis- 

 trum, L. The Wild Radish or Jointed Charlock. The plant yield- 

 ing these pods is a troublesome weed in Eastern New England and 

 farther west. It is a near relative of the garden Radish, Raph- 

 inus sativus, L, and was introduced from Europe. This plant 

 belongs to the Order Cruclferce or Mustard Family. The pods 

 are necklace-formed and break into joints by constrictions 



