191 1.] Identification and Eradication of Weeds. 293 



in length, and the first leaves closely resemble them, being 

 light green, linear, cylindrical, fleshy, and opposite, giving a 

 "tufty " appearance to the seedling. 



As the seedling grows (Fig. 3, d) and the stem extends 

 the leaves begin to appear in whorls of 6 to 8. 



Mature Plant. — The grown plant (Fig. 3, e) is 6--18 in. high, 

 much branched, with thickened joints or nodes. The leaves 

 are opposite, two at each node, but owing to the presence of a 

 pair of leaves at the base of the axillary branches, these leaves 

 being between the primary ones, a pseudo-whorl is formed. 

 The leaves are J to ij in. long, and awl-shaped. The whole 

 plant has a somewhat sticky or viscid feel, and may be downy. 

 The white flowers are borne on slender stalks in loose terminal 

 clusters, are about J in. in diameter, and open from June to 

 August. The white petals are usually shorter than the green, 

 pointed sepals, this rendering the flowers inconspicuous. 

 The seed capsules are nearly round and hang downwards. 



Prevention and Remedy. — Among measures which may be 

 adopted to combat spurrey are : (1) frequent surface cultiva- 

 tion in spring and summer; (2) thorough and frequent 

 hoeing both by hand and by horse labour ; (3) hand pulling 

 in some cases ; (4) the sowing of late quick-growing root 

 crops which allows more time for spring cultivation ; (5) 

 sowing "seeds " in June without a corn crop, this plan also 

 allowing spring cultivation; (6) thorough liming; (7) spray- 

 ing where possible with a 5 per cent, solution of copper 

 sulphate; (8) feeding off a badly infested crop with sheep 

 before seeding takes place. 



In certain Continental countries, especially Belgium, a 

 variety of spurrey is grown as a fodder crop, and is even 

 sometimes converted into hay. In his Farm Foods Wolff 

 quotes the following analyses of spurrey : — 





Green. 



Hay. 





Total. 



Digestible. 



Total. 



Digestible. 



Water 



Crude Albumen ]]. 



„ Fibre .. 



Nitrogen-free Extract . . 

 Fat . 



Ash ... *" 

 Albuminoids and Amides 



80 -o 

 2-3 



5"3 



97 

 07 



2 - 0 



3:3 

 6-5 

 0-3 



i'5 



167 

 12-0 

 22 'O 

 3 6-6 

 3 -2 



95 



131 



237 



V9 

 7-6 



