536 



The Corn Marigold. 



[dec, 



poor in nitrogenous compounds and thin skinned, and of these 

 qualities a low nitrogen content is the most important. If 

 barley is nitrogenous it keeps badly in store and easily loses 

 its germinating capacity. Whilst the appearance of the grain 

 is of great assistance in judging its qualities, the nitrogen 

 content can only be ascertained accurately by analysis. With 

 a view of assisting farmers the Brewing Institute at Berlin 

 carries out such analyses at a low fee, but farmers are advised 

 to attend the Barley and Hop Exhibition as the best way to 

 make themselves acquainted with the characteristics of the 

 finest brewing barley. 



The Board recently received from Northallerton, specimens 

 of the corn marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum, Linn.), a beauti- 

 ful but destructive weed, which was 

 The Corn reported to be doing much damage. 

 Marigold. An attempt had been made to eradicate 

 it by taking four successive green crops, 

 but the weed was stated to be as nourishing as ever. The present 

 year has been very favourable to its growth, and it has prac- 

 tically destroyed 2 acres of barley and nearly destroyed a third, 

 the 2 acres being so bad that harvesting of the crop was not 

 attempted. 



The corn marigold is an erect, composite plant, attaining 

 \\ ft. in height, and bearing beautiful golden-yellow flower 

 heads some 2 in. in diameter, flowering taking place from 

 June to September, or even as late as October. The " seeds " 

 of the corn marigold are very light and very easily blown from 

 one field to another, while they are also said to lie dormant 

 like the seeds of charlock. For this reason alone it is a most 

 difficult weed to extirpate. Both seeds and flower heads are 

 poisonous, and chaff containing many should therefore not 

 be given to stock, but should be destroyed. Thaer says the 

 seeds pass through the digestive system of horses, &c, without 

 losing their vitality, and where chaff contains only a few 

 seeds it would be advisable to steam it well before use. Fream 

 says of this plant* : " It is possessed of great vitality, and, 

 when pulled up and thrown aside, does not perish and decom- 

 pose, but continues growing and ripens its seeds." Seeds are 

 produced in very large numbers. 



* Complete Grazier, p. 858. 



