820 WEED FLORA OF IOWA 



about 50 per cent of humus; the humus mentioned must be in the 

 nature of peat, as the list of plants mentioned all belong to the 

 peat flora. (8) Alkali soils. The plants mentioned here are 

 hardly characteristic in this state, only a few of the species being 

 reported in old lake beds in northern Iowa. Some of the weeds 

 mentioned by him are Triglochin maritima and Juncus balticus. 

 This author also gives more or less extended accounts of the 

 methods of extermination of these weeds in Germany. 



Sorauer and Frank discuss the weeds of Germany. Stebler and 

 Schroeter discuss, in an extended way, in a work appearing in 

 1891, the weeds of Switzerland, giving many colored illustrations 

 and good descriptions. Numerous other papers also have ap- 

 peared in German technical agricultural journals and in the 

 transactions of societies. 



"William Darlington of West- Chester, Pennsylvania, was a 

 pioneer along the line of writing a special treatise on the subject 

 of weeds; for in 1847 he wrote a work on agricultural botany, an 

 enumeration and description of "useful plants and weeds, which 

 merit the notice or require the attention of American agricul- 

 turalists." He says in the preface: 



The study of Botany, in its widest sense — comprising, as it does, 

 the entire vegetable creation, — ^will ever have its select votaries in 

 those who can appreciate its manifold charms, and find their re- 

 ward in the pleasures incident to the pursuit; but when regarded 

 in a more limited and practical point of view, it may fairly chal- 

 lenge the attention even of the most inveterate Utilitarians 



In my humble opinion, no education can be deemed sufficient 

 without some acquaintance with the rudiments, or first principles, 

 of Botanical Science — some rational knowledge of the vast and 

 multiform creation around us, known as the Vegetable Kingdom. 



If our American youths who are being educated with a 



view to Agricultural pursuits, were thoroughly instructed in the 

 admirable Textbook, above referred to, (Botanical Textbook by 

 Prof. A. Gray),^ — and were then required to make themselves 

 botanically acquainted with that portion of the vegetable king- 

 dom which annually demands their attention, on the farm, — ^the 

 Profession would speedily assume a new and engaging aspect. 

 The labors of the field would be blended with the contemplation of 

 facts and phenomena of the deepest interest to inquiring minds, — 

 and Agriculture — instead of being shunned, as an irksome drudg- 

 ery — would be justly esteemed as one of the noblest employments 

 of a free and intellectual people. 



In the revised second edition a weed is defined as follows: 

 In popular language, any homely plant which is not noticeable 

 for the beauty of its flowers, not entitled to respect by a reputa- 



