14 



WEEDS. 



The " Sinapis" differs chiefly from the " Brassica/' or 

 turnip plant, in having a spreading calyx, and the claws of 

 the petals erect. 



The " Sinapis arvensis " has the root annual, fusiform. 

 Stem, from nine inches to a foot and a half in height, up- 

 right, rough, with a few stiff hairs or bristles, bent somewhat 

 downwards. Branches spreading. Leaves petioled, rugged, 

 serrate, sometimes entire, but most frequently jagged at the 

 base, and sometimes lyrate or pinnatifid. Flowers at the end 

 of the stem and branches, in a clustered corymb, each on a 

 pedicle the length of the calyx, and slightly hispid. Corolla 

 always yellow. Siliques spreading, slightly hairy, or some- 

 times smooth, torose or swelling, ending in a short, com- 

 pressed, ensiform, grooved beak. Seeds dark brown, shining, 

 eight or nine, extremely pungent, and well known under the 

 name of " Durham mustard." It flowers in June and July, 

 but occasionally in all open weather, and forms a very trouble- 

 some weed on heavy moist corn lands. The seeds are of an 

 oily nature, and remain dormant in the soil for an indefinite 

 time, if buried below the depth of six inches. On being- 

 brought by deep ploughing near the light, the plants appear 

 in such abundance as to overrun and smother any growing 

 crop. They may be destroyed before seeding, and winter 

 tares being cut when the flower is in blossom, will much help 

 to destroy it ; and if a crop of turnips follows the tares, the 

 charlock will be well-nigh destroyed. The crops being drilled, 

 the blossomed plants must be pulled by hand, and carried 

 from the field ; for the seeds, if only half perfected, will grow 

 with much readiness. 



The classical name in English, is " Wild mustard but it 

 is variously called, in provincial language, charlock, gar- 

 lock, warlock, chadlock, cadlock, and kedlock. The young 

 plants, and particularly the tender tops before they flower, 

 are boiled, and eaten as greens by the peasants in Scandi- 

 navia, Ireland, and many parts of England. 



9. The " Hedge mustard," or " Erysimum barbarea'' of 

 botany, is a weed of much frequency on similar soils with the 

 last, and being like it in appearance, the two plants are often 



