116 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
PARSNEPS—STABLING HORSES. 
Messrs. Gaylord & Tucker—O f the Parsnep noticed 
on page 14, (current vol. of the Cultivator,) there was 
only one variety, the common garden, known in Britain, 
until of late years; it is a vegetable little esteemed. Lou¬ 
don m his Encyclopedia of Gardening, says—“ There is 
only one variety in general cultivation in Britain. The 
French possess three, the Coquaine, Lisbonaise and Siam. 
The Coquaine is much cultivated in Guernsey and Jersey; 
the roots are sometimes four feet long, and are rarely so* 
small in circumference as six inches, having been known 
to reach sixteen. The leaves of this variety grow to a 
considerable height, and proceed from the whole crown 
of the root. The Lisbonaise does not extend to so great 
a depth as the Coquaine, but the root is equally good in 
quality, and what is lost in length is gained in thickness; 
the leaves are small and short, and proceed only from the 
centre of the crown. The Siam has a root of a yellow¬ 
ish color, not very large, but tender, and more rich in 
taste than the other varieties.” 
I am inclined to think that the degeneracy complained 
of by Mr. Jennison, may arise from one or the other or 
all the following causes: poverty of the soil; want of 
due attention in selecting the largest, smoothest, and best 
formed roots for seed; mixture with the common variety; 
or always growing from seed raised on the same farm; 
this last is a fruitful source of deterioration in a number 
of vegetables; for seed, the largest and best formed roots, 
free from fingers and toes, should be selected, when the 
crop is gathered, and laid aside to be planted in the spring, 
in a rich, light, deep soil: the main crop for use, should 
be sown on a similar soil, dug or plowed deep, well 
manured with decomposed dung; when that cannot be 
obtained and recent manure is used, it should be laid at 
the bottom of the trench or furrow. 
Were attention paid to the above particular, I think 
the varieties would not degenerate, especially if due care 
is used to get the seed from a distance. 
As already noticed, until of very recent date only one 
variety was known in Britain, and that little esteemed, 
and less cultivated; the other varieties being so recently 
introduced, are not ye t to be had at the majority of the seed 
shops or stores. This I conceive to be the cause of Mr. 
Loudon’s recommending the seed to be procured from 
Jersey or Guernsey, and not because the plant has dege¬ 
nerated in Britain; there, plants will not be so apt to de¬ 
generate as in this continent, as the growers (with few 
exceptions,) are supplied by the nursery and seedsmen 
around London, Edinburgh, and a few more of the large 
cities; and these spare no expense to raise true seed of 
the best quality, as their success in business depends on 
their doing so. 
Since I came to this country, I have had my cabbage 
seed from New Hampshire, and in a pound of it, one 
true plant of the variety said to be purchased, cannot be 
obtained, nor two plants alike; but they rise up a motley 
crew of mongrels, Savoys, cabbages of all varieties, Ru- 
ta Bag - a, German Grenz, and Brocoli, all sported toge¬ 
ther, from want of atttention in keeping the seed beds 
duly separated. 
I shall now make some remarks on the article headed 
“ Stabling Horses,” at page 21. 
Mr. Stone’s experience of the injurious effects to the 
hoofs of the horse, in allowing him to stand in the stable 
among his dung and urine, is what attends all such man¬ 
agement. The crust or horn of the hoof is composed of 
numerous fibres held together by a glutinous substance, 
elastic and very tough; much of this elasticity and tough¬ 
ness is destroyed by keeping the animal in the stable, 
among litter saturated with urine and the juice of the 
dung, the horny substance of the crust becomes brittle, 
and liable to chip or break off. 
The remedy recommended by Mr. Stone, I disapprove 
of. All oils are of a drying nature when exposed to the 
action of the atmosphere, and tend rather to increase than 
remove the evil, caused by injudicious stable manage¬ 
ment. Moisture is indispensable for keeping the hoof 
in a healthy state; oil, therefore, applied to the hoof, 
hardens it and prevents the dew and rain from penetra¬ 
ting and nourishing it, hence brittleness and contraction 
follow. It was a common custom in Britain, with the 
mail and stage coach proprietors, to oil or grease the 
hoofs of their horses, but it was very soon given up by 
all who attended to its injurious effects to the feet of 
their cattle. The appearance of a well groomed horse is 
certainly improved with its hoofs oiled, but the poor ani¬ 
mal suffers for the vanity of his master or groom. 
To prevent the injurious effects of the dung and urine 
to the feet, there is nothing better than a mixture of clay 
and cow dung, applied to the sole of the foot as soon as 
the horse is put into the stable; this I prefer to the piece 
of felt recommended in the “ Horse Book,” for this rea¬ 
son, that, unless frequently washed or renewed, gets satu¬ 
rated with urine, whereas-the clay and cow dung is ap¬ 
plied fresh every time the horse is put into the stable; 
in this climate during winter, it may be more convenient 
to use the felt than the mixture. Cow dung being of a 
cooling nature will do by itself. 
About 25 years since, I had a horse lame from corns 
in the fore feet, which were cured by pairing the sole, 
and stuffing with the mixture. 
Of the course pursued by Mr. Stone, the “ Horse Book” 
(so strongly recommended by your intelligentcorrespond- 
ent Commentator,) says, « The common stopping of tar 
and grease is. peculiarly objectionable, increasing the 
dryness and brittleness which it was intended to remedy.” 
Scotus. 
Ascot , L. C. Feb. 17, 1842. 
WEEDS OF AGRICULTURE. 
[M e are pleased to be able to present to our readers 
this month, the first of a series of papers on the Weeds 
of Ariculture, from the pen of Dr. L. C. Beck. They 
cannot fail, we think, to be acceptable and useful. Ba¬ 
sed, as the reader will see they are, on a valuable Eng¬ 
lish work, we trust Dr. B. will see the propriety of 
lendering them as much Americanized as possible_ 
that is, in the methods for destroying the weeds noted, 
adopting such crops and courses of farming as are best 
adapted to this country. It can scarcely be doubted by 
any one who has reflected on the subject, that the ave¬ 
rage farm crops are reduced at least one-fourth by the 
presence of such a multitude of various weeds as infest 
the most of our farms; and anything which shall have a 
tendency to diminish this evil, will be gladly received by 
9.11*3 
On perusing a foreign publication with the above title, 
it occurred to me that a work of a similar kind might be 
useful to American agriculturists. I have, therefore, 
availed myself in part of the information there contain¬ 
ed, and have made such additions as seemed to be neces¬ 
sary to carry out the object which I have in view. 
I propose from time to time to furnish, for the columns 
of the Cultivator, short papers on the subject of these 
vegetable loafers, and should the plan meet the approba¬ 
tion of our farmers, I may hereafter be induced to pub¬ 
lish the whole in another form, with such illustrations 
as may be required to identify the plants described. In 
the mean time I should be glad to receive descriptions 
of any troublesome « weeds” found in any part of the 
United States, and accounts of such methods as have 
been successfully employed for their extirpation. 
It may perhaps be proper to remark that the essay 
which constitutes the basis of my communications, was 
written by Benjamin Holdich, Esq., who is represented 
to have been a practical farmer of great ability, as well 
as a man possessing the most extensive and correct 
knowledge on rural affairs. He was a native of Thor- 
ney, in the isle of Ely, England, and was born Nov., 
1770. At the age of twenty-three he emigrated to this 
country, where he remained seven years, visiting most 
of the states, and the then uninhabited western territory. 
He returned to England, married, and settled in his na¬ 
tive parish as a farmer in 1801-2. Subsequently he be¬ 
came the editor of the Farmers’ Journal, a situation 
which he filled with ability until the time of his death, 
which took place in the spring of 1824. 
In the introduction of the essay on the “Weeds of 
Agriculture,” the author states that the work owes its 
origin to his receiving a letter as editor of the Farmers’ 
Journal, from a gentleman in Durham, of which the fol¬ 
lowing is an extract: “Would any of your numerous 
correspondents point out a work as a book of reference, 
for the destruction of weeds, to which a young farmer 
might refer ? It should be alphabetical, with the Lin- 
nean and provincial names, and the best mode of extir¬ 
pating them.” To this correspondent he says, « it could 
only be answered that there was no such book; but on a 
little reflection it appeared highly desirable that such a 
book should be written, and the result is this essay. It 
did not appear, however, that an alphabetical arrange¬ 
ment was required; but rather that a proper division of 
weeds, as to their agricultural character and demerits, 
would be more useful, and would lead the inexperienced 
reader more readily to what he desired to find.” 
I will only add that the original essay of Mr. Holdich 
was quite imperfect, and was subsequently much improv¬ 
ed by its editor, Mr. G. Sinclair, author of the Hortus 
Gramineus Woburnensis. Lewis C. Beck. 
New-Brunswick, N. J. 
The weeds of agriculture may be classified as follows: 
1st. Those which infest samples of grain of different 
kinds. 
2d. Rooted or fallow weeds, and such others as are 
hard to destroy. 
3d. Those which are principally objectionable as they 
encumber the soil. 
4th. Underling weeds, such as never rise with the 
crop, nor come into the sickle. 
Under these heads, each weed in its respective divi¬ 
sion, will be treated of as to its deteriorating qualities 
and mode of destruction. 
Weeds which infest grain of different kinds. 
The weeds of this description are few in number, and 
it very rarely happens that more than two sorts are found 
associated in one sample of grain. They vary as to the 
soil so much that some of the worst weeds in fens and 
marshes are not known at all on clay, cold soils, and are 
but little seen on any sort of dry turnep land. Light 
loams and deep loose soils have naturally the greatest 
number of weeds. It would seem, therefore, to be de¬ 
sirable to treat of weeds in reference to the soils on 
which they prevail; but this end may be attained by re¬ 
marks introduced into the notices of the several kinds. 
I now proceed to notice some of the weeds belonging 
to this division: 
1. Darnel, often known in this country by the name 
of Chess. Also called Smoth rye and Brome grass. It in¬ 
cludes the two following species, viz: 
Bromus Secalinus. Linn. 
Botanical Description— Panicle spreading, slight¬ 
ly subdivided below. Spikelets ovate, about ten, dis¬ 
tinct, somewhat cylindrical. Florets smooth. Awns 
wavy, shorter than the glumes. Leaves slightly hairy. 
Bromus Mollis. Linn. 
Botanical Description. —Panicle erect, rather close, 
compound. Spikelets ovate, downy. Florets imbricat¬ 
ed, depressed, ribbed. Awns as long as the glumes. 
Leaves and sheaths very soft and downy. 
These plants mostly grow in fields, but are most hurt¬ 
ful among rye grass, which is mowed to thrash. In the 
sample, the seed is larger than the rye and has a shorter 
awn. It is just so heavy that it escapes the degree of 
wind which the rye grass will bear, and therefore in¬ 
fests the samples as they are offered by farmers; but the 
seedsmen who buy large quantities, take it out by means 
of a sieve which allows the rye to pass through. 
Ihe darnel, ( Bromus secalinus ,) is an annual plant, be¬ 
ing in its growth and appearance similar to grain until 
it puts forth its characters of fructification. It is usually 
quite thinly scattered where it does grow, and it cannot 
be weeded out. It is seldom found except where it is 
sown with the seed grain; but where it has been sown, 
it is sure to be found in the crop. About the time that 
the grain begins to form, or somewhat later, the darnel 
throws out its flowering panicles, which, as the grain 
ripens, droop, each spikelet with its heavy load of 
seeds. These drooping spikelets are flat, somewhat 
short and nearly smooth, with the seeds much crowded. 
As they ripen, the leaves drop away and the straw re- 
rembles that of oats. The seeds, which are thicker and 
heavier than those of rye, contain a large quantity of 
nuti itious flour, and fowls, pigs and horses are very fond 
of them. 
The soft brome grass, (Holcus mollis,) is earlier than 
the preceding, and its seeds are, for the most part, shed 
before the harvesting of grain crops. This weed is, 
therefore, less pernicious in grain crops than the Bromus 
secalinus. 
The objection to darnel, with the miller, is that it is 
tough and somewhat soapy, and thus dulls the stones. 
When a sample of wheat contains so much of it as to be 
rough in hand, its value is considerably reduced. The 
farmer should be very careful not to sow these seeds 
with wheat. It is said that they have not been observed 
in any spring crop. 
On reviewing the description of these weeds, we can at 
once see what has given rise to the common, but mis¬ 
taken notion, in regard to the change of wheat into 
chess. Such is the general resemblance between the two 
kinds of seed, viz: those of darnel and wheat, that without 
much care they may be mixed and grow up together. 
If such a change as this can take place, the wonder is 
that wheat should not have undergone other changes, 
and finally been entirely lost. We cannot entertain such 
notions without at once forgetting all that is known con¬ 
cerning the permanency of species and their mode of 
reproduction. 
2. Cockle, often known in this country by the name 
of Corn campion. 
Agrostemma Githago. Linn. 
Botanical Description —Whole plant, except the 
petals and capsule, covered with soft hairs. Calyx longer 
than the corolla. Petals entire or slightly emarginate or 
naked. 
A well known annual weed, of rather an ornamental 
appearance, bearing purplish red flowers. In the spring 
its leaves are long, downy and slender, and the plant is 
strong and conspicuous at weeding time. It grows 
somewhat tall before it branches, and is in full flower 
and bearing when the wheat is ripening, growing two 
feet and a half high. The seeds are very numerous and 
contained in bulky capsules; they are black and rough, 
resembling a rolled up hedge hog, are nearly as large°as 
small wheat kernels, and are filled with white flour. 
The miller’s objection to these seeds is that their black 
husks are reduced to so fine a powder as to pass the 
boulters, and thus render the flour specky. Moreover, 
as the seed is bulky, if there be much in the sample, it 
detracts considerably from the produce in flour. 
3. Melilot. Yellow clover, or common melilot-clover. 
Melilotus Officinalis. Willd. 
Botanical Description. —Stem erect, branching-. 
Leafets lanceolate-oblong, obtuse, remotely serrate. 
Spikes axillary, paniculate. Legume 2-seeded, rugose. 
Style filiform, as long as the legume. Seeds unequally 
cordate. 
This is an annual plant growing with an upright stem, 
from two to three feet high, branched and furrowed 
with spikes of yellow flowers. The capsules contain¬ 
ing the seed are very tough and wrinkled, growing in 
bunches. Each capsule is generally one, or sometimes, 
two-seeded, but thrashing does not dislodge them; so 
that in samples of wheat, the wrinkled capsule is called 
the seed. 
This is, of all others, the most pernicious seed in 
wheat, a few seeds communicating a very strong smell 
to the flour. The plant delights in stiff soils. It is very 
palatable food to all sorts of cattle, and has a pleasant 
odor when cut down and dried. Nevertheless, as a 
weed in arable land, it cannot be too much guarded 
against, and ought never to be sown with seed corn. 
Moreover, it should be carefully rooted up by weeding 
in the spring, for when it has once been introduced, it 
propagates itself by scattering many seeds before the 
crop is ripe. Hence wheat, on land so infested, should 
always be sown on a naked fallow. 
Tares.— This name is applied to two distinct species, 
viz. Ervum tetraspermum or smooth tare, and Ervum hir- 
sutum or hairy tare. 
Ervum tetraspermum. Linn. 
Botanical Description. —Stems cespitose, branch¬ 
ing. Leafets 4-6, oblong, mucronate. Stipules lanceo¬ 
late, semi-sagitate. Peduncles 1-4 flowered, filiform. 
Segments of the calyx unequal, broadish, shorter than 
