42 



WEEDS. — RUSH PLANT. 



This weed may be weakened and destroyed by the same 

 means as recommended in the case of the last-mentioned 

 plant. 



4. The ^^Rusli " plant, or the " Jmicus" of botany, are not 

 unfrequently found as weeds in meadows and pastures. The 

 plant belongs to the class and order " Hexandria monogynia" 

 of Linneus, and the natui'al order " Junci or Junceae " of 

 Jussieu. 



Generic character. — Perianth, of six oblong, pointed, per- 

 manent leaves, inferior. Corolla none. Stamina : filaments 

 six (in the common rush, only three) ; capillary very short ; 

 anthers oblong, erect, the length of the perianth. Pistil : 

 germen superior, pointed^ triangular ; style short, thread- 

 shaped ; stigmas three, long, thread-shaped, downy, inflexed* 

 Pericarp : capsule invested v/ith the calyx, tringular, of three 

 more or less completely divided cells, with three valves, 

 the partitions from their centre. Seeds various in number, rarely 

 solitary, roundish. 



Essential character. — Calyx of six leaves, permanent. 

 Corolla none. Capsule superior, of three valves, with one or 

 three cells. Seeds several ; stigmas three. 



The Common rush," or " Juncus congiomeratus," is 

 triandrous, and belongs to the first section, or plants that 

 have a leafless stem, the culm being naked and stiff, and the 

 head lateral. Root perennial, horizontal, close, covered with 

 ovate scales ; fibres filiform, very long. Culms from one to 

 two feet in height, upright, round, smooth ; sheaths at the 

 base, striated, blunt, leafless, awned, the uppermost three 

 times as long as the rest. Root leaves few, very like the 

 culms. Head of flowers roundish, solitary, seldom two to- 

 gether, from the fissure of the culm bursting out below the top. 



The rush plants grow on soils varying from the poorest 

 gravelly clays, to the best and deepest loams, and always in- 

 dicatino' an excess of moisture. Drainino" of the land is the 

 first step in remedy, and to be assisted by top-dressings of 

 ashes, and other earthy matters. The roots may also be dug 

 up by the spade, and reversed in the pit, when they generally 

 die, and give place to better herbage. 



