320 The Weeds of a Garden. [Sess. 



was very small, and these may be noticed first. Their pres- 

 ence may be accounted for on the theory of the " Migration 

 of Seeds," on which subject a very interesting article appeared 

 in 'The Scotsman' of Nov. 1, 1910. Nearly every year one 

 or two plants of the pretty Scarlet Pimpernel appear, and this 

 year, in a bed of Mignonette, there was one plant of the 

 Scarlet and one of the Blue Pimpernel. The seeds of these 

 would likely be imported among those of the Mignonette. 

 Other comparatively rare plants are Barbarea vulgaris, Val- 

 erianella olitoria, and Sonchus arvensis. ^gopodium, though 

 growing in great profusion close outside the garden wall, is 

 scarcely to be found inside. If it should get a " footing " 

 about the roots of bushes, the wiry stems soon form a thick 

 mat, very difficult to eradicate, but in the open it gives much 

 less trouble. In a small garden patch of my own there were 

 a few old gooseberry-bushes, among and around which Gout- 

 weed reigned supreme ; but I dug up the bushes two years 

 ago, and now, with a little careful grubbing, scarcely any of 

 the weed is left. Arrhenatherum avenaceum (False Oat- 

 grass), only too plentiful in the fields close to the garden, 

 seldom appears inside, and any scraps that are met with were 

 likely introduced with farmyard manure. Books on Botany 

 say this grass sometimes has knotted roots, but I do not think 

 I ever saw any without the characteristic rows of knots, like 

 strings of beads, and in many places it is called " Knot-grass " 

 by farmers and their workers. 



Now let us notice some of the most troublesome of the 

 weeds. Chickweed, on account of its rapid growth and enor- 

 mous seed-producing capacity, ranks high. So does Ground- 

 sel, and it is wonderful how soon the seeds of this plant 

 reach maturity. Pull up a plant with the flower - heads 

 scarcely open, and throw it down. In a few days the pa'ppus 

 will be observed fully developed, and the seeds ready to drop, 

 or to be scattered by the slightest breeze, and produce a new 

 generation. Let the stem of a plant of this species be put 

 in a decumbent position, and it will throw out small roots 

 like those on the climbing stems of ivy, and these grow down 

 into the soil, thereby giving the plant a new lease of life. 



Who does not admire the common wayside flower, the 

 Germander Speedwell {Veronica Chamcedrys), with its lovely 



