42 ComposiT&. 
Victoria, and proved pests, it would be well to look out for these ones, 
and also for cases of supposed poisoning by Senecio. Indeed, Professor 
Gilruth informs me, from. New Zealand experience, that Ragwort (S. 
Jacobea) is undoubtedly poisonous, especially to cattle and horses, but less 
so to sheep. The symptoms are, however, only shown (cirrhosis of liver, 
&c.) after one to three months’ continuous grazing on the plant, and in 
some cases even if the stock are removed while they still appear healthy, 
after-symptoms leading to fatal results may manifest themselves. Neverthe- 
less, the plant may be safely grazed down by sheep if they are not allowed 
on it more than a week or so at a time, and given, plenty of silage feeding, 
fodder or roots, or good grazing in between. 
Sonchus oleraceus, L. The Sow Thistle. This is an annual weed, 
plentiful in many places, but hardly a serious weed. The pappus is seated 
on the flattened ‘‘seeds,’? which are numerous and readily spread. The 
plant is eaten by stock, and does them no injury, though not specially 
nutritious. It forms good green feed for fowls: On arable land and in 
gardens it can be easily kept down by cultivation, hoeing, and the sup- 
pression of seeding, since the duration of vitality of the seed in the soil 
is very limited. The plant is a cosmopolitan weed, like the common dande- 
lion. The variety ‘‘asper’’? has rougher leaves, and the Cornfield Sow 
Thistle is a distinct species, S. arvensis, L. 
Taraxacum officinale, L. Dandelion. This perennial plant is a far 
more troublesome and abundant weed in England than in Victoria, except 
in moist ground. In spite of its tap root, the plant is killed by severe 
drought, and does not flourish under dry conditions. Though of no prac- 
tical value as fodder or otherwise, the plant is not actively harmful or 
injurious. Where it is abundant, cultivation keeps it under, but it is 
exceedingly difficult to eradicate completely, since unless the whole root- 
stock is removed the plant shoots again, and it can stand a fair amount of 
shading by other vegetation. This plant, like the Stinkwort and other com- 
posites, is likely to be a troublesome weed along irrigation channels, con- 
tinually spreading by seeds floating on the water, and being carried by it 
to uninfected irrigated land. This can be prevented by screening the--" 
water or by keeping the banks of the channel clean. 
Tragopogon porrifolius, L. Salsify or Goat’s Beard. A native of 
Europe, Asia, and Africa. This plant is often grown in gardens for the 
sake of its edible roots, and appears occasionally as a weed escaped from 
cultivation, but has not proved serious hitherto. It will grow in most soils, 
but the root is only edible when grown in rich garden soil. The young 
plants are eaten by cattle, but not when in flower, and the winged seeds are 
carried everywhere by the wind. 
Nanthium spirosum, L. The Bathurst Burr or Spiny Burweed. A 
native of Europe, Asia, and Africa. It is peculiar in having the male and 
female flowers in separate heads, the females (two) together, and forming 
a two-seeded fruit. One seed usually germinates in one year, the other 
in two to three vears, owing to the seed coat of the latter being less perme- 
able to water and oxvgen. Seed in the soil are not exhausted, therefore, 
until after three vears. 
The plant appears to have been introduced about f850 into Australia, 
with impure agricultural seed, and was at first confined to roadsides, but 
scon was spread by stock in ‘all directions, is now abundant and troublesome 
in New South Wales and Queensland, and has also reached Victoria. The 
burrs seriously impair the value of fleeces, and also adhere to the tails of 
stock and manes of horses. A few pounds expenditure when the weed first 
