Garden Weeds. The most common garden weeds are purslane, 

 pigweed, lamb 's quarter, crab grass, nimble will, fox tail, spurge, 

 boot jack, smartweed, speedwell, horse weed, etc., are quite uni- 

 versal in the state. 



Meadows. The more important weeds in clover meadows are 

 curled and smooth dock, fox tail, nimble will, horse weed, pep- 

 per grass and smartweed, yarrow, pigeon grass and small rag- 

 weed. The buckhorn, bracted plantain, chicory, carrot, white 

 catchfly, evening catchfly, black medick and yellow clover are 

 occasional and of recent introduction. 



Pastures. In Iowa pastures the hoary vervain with blue flow- 

 ers in long spikes. Small ragweed, pigeon grass, fox tail and 

 golden rod are the most conspicuous weed in all parts of the 

 state. 



Roadsides. The weeds of the roadside are generally much the 

 same as those occuring in adjacent fields. In eastern Iowa dog 

 fennel or may weed, yellow clover and jimson weed. The fol- 

 lowing are general in the state: Small ragweed, greater rag- 

 weed, horse weed, pitch forks, golden rod, morning glory, par- 

 snip, milk weed. In western Iowa marshelder, sun flower, stink 

 weed, fetid marigold are among the most important weeds. 



J'oisonons Weeds. The laity should become more familiar 

 with the poisonuos plants of the state. There are a great many 

 plants which are more or less poisonous to man and lower ani- 

 mals, a few are, however, deadly poisonous. Some of these dead- 

 ly poisonous plants are found in all parts of the state. The 

 most poisonous of these is the cowbane which occurs in low 

 grounds, has white flowers occurring in umbels, leaves divided, 

 fleshy roots, clustered, of a pungent odor and taste. The roots 

 are deadly poisonous, a small amount not larger than a hazel 

 nut taken in the fall, winter or spring has caused death to a 

 boy. In the year 1909 near Boone two boys were poisoned. 

 One lad a high school boy picked up some of the roots which 

 were turned over by a farmer while breaking a meadow. The 

 boy was carried to a farm house in the neighborhood and a 

 call sent for a doctor. The doctor made a rapid trip to the 

 house in his automobile, taking the boy, but when the hospital 

 was reached he died. The second boy died under somewhat dif- 

 ferent circumstances. This boy later evidently picked up some 

 of the plant to show the doctors Avhat his companion had eaten 

 and later he developed symptoms resembling those found in 

 poison ivy poisoning. Similar cases have been reported else- 

 where. Some persons who pull up the plant get eruptions on the 

 skin. I am told that the same thing occurs when persons pull 

 or come in contact with the leaves of the cultivated parsnip 



