1907.] Fairy Rings and their Eradication. 



537 



The following extract* is of interest in connection with 

 C. segetum : — " This plant may still be found in our cornfields, 

 although careful farming has greatly diminished its places of 

 habitation, and shortly it may find the garden its only place 

 of refuge. It is a very troublesome weed to the farmer, 

 particularly in the turnip fields of Norfolk, on a sandy soil. 

 In Denmark there is a law to oblige farmers to roof it up out 

 of their fields ; and Threlkeld states, in 1727, that in Britain 

 ' Maunour courts do amerce careless tenants who do not weed 

 it out before it comes to seed ' ; a laudable practice worthy of 

 being retained." 



The preventive and remedial measures suggested are as 

 follows : — 



(1) Sowing seed absolutely free from the seeds of the corn 

 marigold, especial care being taken to this end if the seed grain is 

 grown in the neighbourhood. 



(2) Destruction of all seeds in chaff and thrashing refuse 

 by steaming. 



(3) Hand-pulling of any large plants, and the thorough hoeing 

 of several successive root crops in order to prevent any of the 

 plants seeding. All removed plants should be burnt. 



(4) Seeds which have fallen should be allowed to germinate, 

 and the young plants destroyed by surface cultivation and 

 hoeing. 



As the plant is an annual, the utmost care should be taken 

 every year to prevent seeding. By persistent efforts, even the 

 seeds which may be lying dormant for a time will be destroyed. 

 Neighbouring farmers should be encouraged to co-operate in 

 destroying the weed, as the seeds may easily be carried from 

 farm to farm. 



In reference to the note on Fairy Rings in this Journal, 

 August, 1907, p. 296, some remarks by Mr. G. H. Robinson, 

 Assistant Vegetable Pathologist, Victoria, 

 Fairy Rings and their are of interest. (Agricultural Gazette, New 

 Eradication. South Wales, August., 1907.) It is stated 

 that of all the causes which operate against, 

 the formation and maintenance of a good, even turf in bowling 

 greens, golf links, and lawns in general, perhaps none is more 



* Sowerby^s English Botany, Ed. iii., Vol. 5, p. 40 



