AGRICULTURAL NATURE STUDY OUTLINES 
65 
resistant. Cattle feed on it when it grows tall enough, but it is bitter 
and not a desirable plant for dairy stock. Sheep eat it and do well on 
it. It occupies space in the pastures that should be growing more valuable 
forage plants. Remedy, change of crop from pasture to grain or an inter¬ 
tilled crop for a period of years before reseeding. Sow clean seed. 
Sour Dock or Sorrel (Bumex acetosella ).—A frequenter of rather dry sandy 
or loamy soils, especially on the coast. It is a strong perennial spreading 
rapidly by means of slender rootstocks. The leaves are decidedly sour 
and disliked by stock. When present in any considerable quantity, it 
usually means a poor or acid soil. Remedy, it dislikes lime so apply heavy 
applications of lime which will encourage other and better forage plants. 
Cultivate the surface frequently and thoroughly so as to expose the root¬ 
stocks. 
Curled Dock (Eumex crispus ).—We often see considerable areas of our pasture 
lands, especially in the low places, occupied by this weed. Unlike the 
sour dock, it has a long tap root. Cattle never eat it, so that it is left 
undisturbed to seed abundantly. Remedy, pull up by the roots when the 
ground is thoroughly soaked by rains or irrigation. Keep cutting just 
below the crown so as to starve the roots. Change from pasture to grain 
or intertilled crops. 
