l80 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 



The May-weed (Anthemis cotula, L.), which follows man, 

 has made its appearance in northern Aroostook County. 



In the seeds examined this season we have frequently found 

 the seeds of Sow Thistles, and these weeds are widely dis- 

 tributed in the State. Sonchus arvensis is reported from Aroos- 

 took County as overrunning potato fields and choking out grass 

 in newly seeded fields. Sow Thistles will not persist in grass 

 lands, but they become a nuisance in gardens and fields. 



The Common Milkweed (Asclepias cornuti, Des.) is regarded 

 as a bad weed in low mowing fields in southwestern Maine. 



The Aristate Plantain is widely distributed in newly 

 sowed land. It does not seem to persist much after the first 

 season. The seeds of its relative, the English Plantain, are 

 quite abundant in clover seed from the West. 



The Three-seeded Mercury (Acalypha Virginica) has been 

 reported as a bad weed in gardens and also as spreading to 

 fields. It ought to yield readily to clean culture. 



Thorny Amaranthus or Pigweed is a bad weed in gardens 

 and cultivated land. It has the disagreeable habit of growing 

 rapidly after hoed crops are laid by and makes large growth, 

 seeding profusely before frost. The seeds are very common in 

 grass seed sold in Maine. 



Squirrel-tail Grass (Hordeum jubatum) is becoming com- 

 mon in western Maine. It is a bad weed. It springs up in 

 car yards where western grain is unloaded and will spread to 

 farms. 



The Potato Blight (P. infestans) was very prevalent 

 throughout the State. Potatoes rotted badly. Never before 

 has the value of spraying been so emphasized. Fields where 

 spraying was done yielded a good crop of sound tubers, while 

 adjoining fields that were not sprayed were almost a failure. 



The Strawberry Leaf Blight continues to do damage. 

 This has been quite successfully treated by spraying on the 

 Experiment Station grounds. 



The Quince Rust continues to give trouble in southwestern 

 Maine, attacking pear trees. A row of Amalanchier bushes in 

 the Experiment Station grounds was badly attacked, nearly 

 every fruit being infected. It is very difficult to explain the 

 infection of a whole patch upon any other theory than that the 



disease is perennial. 



