THE CBEEPING 

 THISTLE. 



Cuicus arvensis. Nat. Ord., Composite?. 



EW of our readers who have not 

 had occasion to look into the 

 matter would imagine oiir native 

 thistles to be so numerous a body 

 as they are, there being a strong 

 family likeness amongst them, 

 though many of the species may 

 readily be distinguished. We 

 have already figured the musk- 

 thistle, the spear-plume, and one 

 or two others, and the present 

 species is an equally common one. 

 As thistles increase not only by 

 means of their flying seeds, but 

 also by the aid of their creeping 

 roots, they are one of the pests 

 of the agriculturist, and farmers 

 cannot too distinctly have their attention called to their 

 pernicious effects, and to the nature of their growth. 

 No species of thistle should be allowed by the farmer 

 to ripen its seeds; all should be rigorously cut down 

 before these are ready for dispersion, though the mere 

 cutting down of the plant seems of little value, as it, 



