6 



WEEDS. 



formerly used very extensively ; but the application of it is 

 now^ reduced to swellings, either alone or in poultices. The 

 medicinal virtues are acknowledged ; but the active matter is 

 small in comparison with the grosser parts, and is very far 

 divided and diluted in the herb. 



The common chickweed is an annual plant, and flowers 

 almost throughout the whole year. In gardens, on dung- 

 hills, and on soft, light loamy lands that have been abund- 

 antly manured, it grows luxuriantly, and sheds an abundance 

 of seeds, which are round, compressed, yellow, and rough, with 

 little tubercles, and thus becomes a troublesome weed. On 

 soils that suit its temper, it is uncommonly tenacious of life ; 

 and if the weather be damp and showery, the roots immedi- 

 ately adhere to the soil, and the plant grows afresh, after 

 being removed by the hoe and the scuffler. The great object 

 is to prevent its perfecting any seed : but, as it grows almost 

 during the whole year, the difficulty is almost insuperable. 

 It is very hurtful to young turnips, clovers, carrots, and all 

 slow-growing seeds. A close crop of vetches smothers it very 

 readily. The most effectual way of clearing light lands from 

 such a very troublesome weed, is to gather up the plants 

 during dry weather, after being well shaken by the hand, and 

 cleared from the adhering earth. The plant is naturally juicy 

 and succulent; and, upon being laid into a heap, it quickly 

 ferments and decomposes into an earthy mass. Cool earths 

 may afterwards be added, as loam and effete lime, and a very 

 good compost will be thus obtained. When the plant is 

 pulled up by the hoe in order to be removed, it should be full 

 grown, but before the seeds are formed, 



2. The "Vernal sand wort," or "Arenaria verna," is a very 

 troublesome weed on hght moorish soils. The genus of plants 

 is so called from the Latin word " arena," meaning " sand," 

 in strict allusion to its native soil. It belongs to the class 

 and order " Decandria Trigynia" of Linneus, and the natural 

 order Caryophylleee" of Jussieu. 



Generic character. — Calyx : perianth five-leaved ; leaf- 

 lets oblong, acuminate, spreading, permanent. Corolla : 

 petals five, ovate, entire. Stamina : filaments ten, subulate 



