106 MAINE STATE COLLEGE 



Orange Hawkweed. 

 Hieraciam aurantiacum , Linn. 

 (Ord. Corapositae.) 

 The following letters were received the past season at the Station 

 regarding the above plant. They show how rapidly the weed is 

 spreading, and what a bad pest it is regarded by farmers. The 

 plant has been found in limited quantities on the College farm in a 

 pasture near tiie river, and has not spread very much in that place 

 but the past season we noticed it in several places in the meadow 

 laud. Mr. James Walker of Bangor, reported a field of several 

 acres near Pea Cove, nearly overrun with it. Mr. C4eorge W. 

 Chamberlain reports it from Calais. These together with the 

 localities given in the following letters show it is widely distributed 

 in the State. The question so pointedly asked by Mr. Paine, 

 whether "zue are at the mercy of our neighbors in the matter 

 of spreading iveeds" is one that should seriously claim the attention 

 of the legislature. There should be a law preventing farmers from 

 harboring vile weeds in their fields or letting them grow at the 

 roadsides on their premises. On property for which no one is 

 especially responsible, the dangerous weeds should be eradicated 

 at public expense. Why do not farmers urge some enactment 

 for their protection? There should be a law subjecting seed sold 

 in the State to inspection. The character of the seed sown is as 

 important as the composition of the fertilizer used. 



WiNSLOW, Me., June 20, '92. 

 The State Agricultural College, 

 For the Prof, of Botany, 

 Orono, Me. 

 Dear Sir: — About two years ago I sent you, I think, a plant 

 found in this vicinity which you identified as the Orange 

 Hawkweed. It was not regarded as a dangerous weed at all. I 

 wish to give my experience with it and ask if there is any wav to 

 compel farmers to stamp out such weeds under our law. I have 

 fought it on this farm for about five years. It comes from a 

 farm one-fourth miles square, two narrow farms intervening, and 

 these farms are getting rapidly stocked with it. I have watched 

 it with the greatest care and have picked it clean the middle to 

 the last of June, and again scoured the fields after the haying and 

 at frequent intervals till fall. In spite of the greatest care it is 



