CORN COCKLE— WHITE COCKLE 45 



Corn Cockle (Agrostemma githago L.) 



Other common names. — Purple cockle, corn rose, and corn cam- 

 pion. 



Description. — This weed is often found in wheat fields. It 

 received the name of corn cockle in England where wheat is generally 

 spoken of as ''corn." The plant is an annual growing from one to 

 three feet high without branching very much. It is covered with 

 fine silky hairs and has slender leaves between two and four inches 

 long. The large purple flowers about one and one-half inches across 

 are very conspicuous. The seeds are formed in a pod apparently 

 underneath the flower. This pod enlarges when the seeds mature 

 and finally breaks open so that the seeds can be discharged. The 

 seeds of this plant are dull black, varying from one-twelfth to one- 

 eighth of an inch in diameter. The seeds are sometimes dark brown 

 in color. They are more or less angularly rounded. The surface 

 of the seed is much roughened by ridges of short spines. This seed 

 is poisonous to fowls and cattle, and flour in which much of it has 

 been ground is said to be injurious. 



It is almost impossible to separate corn cockle from wheat except 

 by specially constructed cockle machines and even these do not make 

 a complete separation. The plant flowers during July, and ripens 

 its seeds late in that month or in August. It is quite generally dis- 

 tributed throughout the State, especially in wheat-growing regions. 



Eradication. — In seeking to control this pest, avoid sowing grain 

 containing the seed. Pu.1l small patches or stray plants to. prevent 

 reseeding. Rotate in such a way that grain is not raised more than 

 once in four or five years on the same land. This may be accomplished 

 by using the following rotation: (1) barley, (2) timothy and clover 

 hay, two crops, (3) pasture, (4) corn, and (5) wheat. 



White Cockle {Lychnis alba Mill) 



Other common names. — Evening lychnis, white campion. 



Description. — This is a biennial, or a short-lived perennial plant. 

 It generally produces roots and leaves the first year and sends up a 

 flowering stalk the second year. The plant is from one to three feet 

 high and is sparingly branched. It is more or less hairy. The 

 flowers are pure white and quite conspicuous. Each flower is five- 

 parted, or has five petals, and each petal is partly divided into two 

 parts. The seeds are formed as in corn cockle in a pod, apparently 

 underneath the flower. When the seeds mature, the pod enlarges 

 and breaks and the seeds are scattered. The seeds are small and of 

 a grayish color. When the seed is immature, it is reddish in color. 



