138 



WEED FLORA OF IOWA 



Fig. 78-A. Distribution of Purslane. 



Distribution'. — Purslane is native to Europe and is common from 

 the Atlantic to the Pacific especially in cultivated soil. Common 

 everywhere in the state in gardens and in com fields. 



Extermination. — Purslane is not difficult to exterminate if the 

 green weeds are placed in piles or removed from the garden. They 

 may be fed to hogs. It should be said that the leaves and stems 

 show considerable vitality, since the whole plant is fleshy. Fletcher 

 and Clark say: "A three-year rotation, including summer-fallow 

 directly after the removal of a crop of early clover, followed by a 

 hoed crop and again by cereal grain for the third year, will keep 

 it in cheek. If given access to corn and potato fields, sheep will feed 

 on late plants, and if their pasture is short, will prevent many of 

 them from seeding." 



Chemical Composition. — ^According to a report of the Bussey In- 

 stitution* the chemical composition is as follows : 



FRESH OR AIR DRY MATERIAL,. 



•Bull. 1877: Jenkins and Winton, Bull. Off. Exp. Sta. 11. 



