WEEDS OF MEADOWS AND PASTURES 27 



than the Woolly species. Its leaflets are more slender and 

 its pods are one-celled. It is distributed over an even 

 greater area than the Woolly Loco Weed. 



The Larkspurs are closely related to the Loco Weeds, 

 belonging to the same family of Legumes. There are 

 many species of these, several of which are known to be 

 poisonous to stock. The Dwarf Larkspur, the Purple 

 Larkspur, and the Wyoming Larkspur are the most trouble- 

 some kinds. They are especially likely to be eaten in early 

 spring, when the leaves offer tempting forage to cattle, be- 

 fore the better plants are well started. 



Another weed that has been very troublesome in poison- 

 ing stock is the Rattlebox or Rattleweed. This is native 

 to a great region extending from New Jersey to Kansas 

 and Minnesota, occurring especially in low sandy soils. It 

 is dangerous to horses and cattle, both in the pastures and 

 in hay. In some of the Western states disease in horses 

 caused by it is called the Bottom Disease, because only 

 stock pasturing on the so-called bottom lands are likely to 

 be affected by it. 



A few poisonous weeds commonly occur in wet places in 

 meadows and pastures. Thus the well-known Sneezeweed 

 with its attractive yellow flowers is poisonous to cattle, sheep, 

 and horses. It is abundant along ditches and the borders 

 of ponds and streams. The Poison Hemlock or Spotted 

 Cowbane, which occurs in similar situations, is even more 

 dangerous. Not only are all parts of the plant extremely 

 poisonous to man and animals, but water in which the 

 roots have been trampled may prove poisonous. The 

 roots have an aromatic taste that leads children to eat 

 them, sometimes with fatal results. Both these plants 

 should be exterminated wherever they occur. 

 ' In the case of all these poisonous weeds the only safety 



