Dec., 1900] 
Kellerman — White Heath Aster. 
19 
and wiry and this gives the local name “ Steelweed,” a common 
designation in Adams County and adjoining regions. It is said by 
some, however, that this name is given it “because the flowers are 
the color of bright steel.” Another name frequently applied in the 
localities mentioned is “Bee-plant” for reasons suggested in the 
name itself, and still another is “ Stickweed,” for which I could 
learn no explanation. Other common names which Britton enum- 
erates are Frost-weed, Michaelmas Daisy, Farewell Summer, White 
Rosemary, Dog-fennel, Mare’s-tail, and Scrub-bush. 
Though complaint against this plant is universal in some sec- 
tions, it is not. I think, well founded in all cases. It has some 
merits now and then acknowledged by those who are close observers. 
The allegations pro and con may be summarized as follows: 
First, the statement is made that it is “driving out every other 
grass” and “invading” the whole country. It is certainly more 
abundant than it was before the country was cleared and cultivated ; 
yet after all but little of it is seen in good pastures and vigorous 
meadows, and none at all in ground that is under thorough and con- 
stant. cultivation. It has not the aggressiveness possessed by some 
of our weeds, but it does quickly take possession of neglected and 
fallow ground. It does not spread extensively or rapidly by under- 
ground stems as do some of the Compositae. It has simply short 
rootstocks for this purpose. Its mode of multiplication by this 
means is illustrated in the figures shown in Plate 3. These are from 
photographs taken late in November, and indicate the preparation 
the plant makes for the next season’s work. The specimens num- 
bered 1 and 2 had been mowed to the ground during the summer. 
But this instead of killing the plants stimulated their propensity to 
vegetative multiplication. The result was therefore the opposite of 
what the farmer intended. Figure 3 shows a plant undisturbed dur- 
ing the growing period, and its energies active and latent were 
almost entirely exhausted in producing flowers and seed. Let the 
plants alone then rather than shear their tops, and the sooner will 
they exhaust themselves. 
It is true, as the figures plainly suggest, that this Aster is not a 
difficult one to eradicate. While the roots are numerous, they are 
not long; and even the shallowest plowing or ordinary cultivation 
will effectually destroy the plant. As to multiplication by seed 
germination, it needs simply to be remembered that good or even 
fair cultivation of the soil will prevent this weed from growing, and 
that many species of weeds will get in old meadows and pastures as 
rapidly as the cultivated grasses are killed by excessive grazing or 
the casualties of season and climate. 
In the second place the weed is charged with the heinous crime 
of “ killing stock.” Thorough inquiry in different localities estab- 
lished the fact that this plant, eaten to considerable extent late in 
