A SECOND OHIO WEED MANUAL. 301 



To be effective a weed law must be specific with respect to the 

 weeds to be destined, while the dates assigned for work and the 

 methods employed must be adapted to these plants. It must also 

 be susceptible of change as to the plants named in it. This is made 

 necessary by the constant introduction of new weeds. A weed law 

 should, furthermore, impose weed destruction in such a manner as 

 to lay the least burden, while at the same time fixing 1 the responsi- 

 bility upon the persons benefitted by it, namely, the persons using 

 the land. 



A weed law must further be operative. The careless user of 

 land is often easy to offend. A definite officer may rightly be 

 charged with the duty of supervision rather than to leave it to the 

 complaint of a neighbor. It should be drawn so as to secure the 

 cutting of weeds along the thoroughfares, whether public or corpo- 

 rate. 1 And lastly, it should expect the State to deal with its public 

 works and lands as individual citizens are required to deal with each 

 other on the w T eed question. Enactment of this character w T ill pro- 

 ceed only from effective agitation by the persons interested. 



DESCRIPTIVE ILLUSTRATED LIST OF OHIO WEEDS. 



In the list here given, it has been the aim to give some of the 

 more obvious characters of each weed and to present illustrations 

 of such of the noxious or new ones as appear to require it. Infor- 

 mation looking to the recognition of the plant has been first in mind. 

 Seed characters are presented where possible. The best known 

 methods of eradication or subjugation have been given in every case. 

 Where plants have been classed as noxious upon insufficient 

 grounds, correction is offered. In a few instances the uses of 

 plants are stated. Parasites, with the exception of the dodders 

 and broomrape, are omitted. 



The plants are grouped according to a recognized plan among 

 botanists. 2 Those of similar characters will thus be found in 

 sequence under families or orders. Noting that individual plants, 

 rather than groups, appeal to the ordinary weed observer, the mat- 

 ter of classification is not made prominent. Enough has been given 

 to determine the order or family in every case, if the name is known. 

 In mentioning the parts of plants the simplest accepted terms have 

 been applied. One seeking to find the name of a plant may proceed 

 in any one of the several ways. The indexes, the analytical key, 



l Credit is due the railways for much greater care in the destruction ol weeds along' their rights-of- 

 way in recent years. 



2The systematic arrangement ana technical nomenclature of Britton's Manual have been followed. 

 This beyins with the lower orders. 



