WEEDS. Any plant growing where it is not wanted may truly be classed as a weed The name, however, is only properly applied to those plants not valuable in agriculture. So long as the slovenly farmer, who grows weeds, can get nearly or quite as much for his illy cleaned gram, the work of extermination would seem hopeless. How serious this evil is the following facts will show, for if we consider the immense number of weed seeds that are mingled among our seeds, we would be at no loss to account for the growth of these pests in our fields. Prof. Buckman dis covered, in a pint of cloverseed, 12,600; in broad clover, 39,440; and two pints of Dutch clover yielded, severally, 25,560 and 70,460 weed-seeds. Supposing these samples to be sown, here were seeds enough to stock the land with weeds for many years. If we take into account the great fe cundity of some weeds, we will not feel the least astonished at the increase of the plants when the seeds are sown, and the plants allowed to arrive at maturity. Prof. Buckman has counted 8,000 seeds in a single plant of black mustard, and in a specimen of charlock 4,000 seeds. The common stinking chamomile produces 46,000, and the burdock 26,000 seeds; and the seeds of a single plant of the common dock produced 1,700 little docks. It is found that a single plant of the common groundsel will produce 6,500 seeds in one summer. The graceful corn cockle sheds 2,600 productiVe seeds; and the red poppy, which. diversifies our corn fields and looks so gay upon our hedges, produces 50,000 minute but vital seeds. The corn sow-thistle launches out into the wind its 20,000 flossy parachutes to take root far away. The common dock lets fall 13,000 solid grains, each destined, to shoot down a tap root into the soil. Dandelion produces nearly 3,000 seeds, each furnished with an inimitable apparatus for distant flight. The cow-parsnip, if neglected, will produce 5,000 plants; the meadow scabious, 4,000; the mayweed, 45,000; the daisy, 13,500. Says the North British Agriculturist: Alexander II of Scotland denounced that man to be a traitor who poisons the king's lands with weeds, and introduces a host of enemies. Who ever was found to have three heads of common star-wort among his corn, was fined a sheep for each stalk. In Denmark the farmers are bound by
law to destroy the corn-marigold, and in France a farmer may sue his neighbor who neglects to eradicate the thistles upon his land at the proper season. A law is in operation in Australia to the same effect, and it is proposed to introduce a sim ilar enactment into the Canadian code. Nor have suggestions for such enactments been want ing iu England. A clause enforcing the extirpa tion of weeds in hedges, or along the sides of roads, passed through the House of Commons, but it was for some reason negatived by the Lords. To come to the practical extermination of weeds in the United States, we have found that legis lation is of but avail, it is too difficult to enforce laws relating to the killing of weeds. Each person must exterminate weeds for him self. Fortunately those who do -so most care fully are not only the best farmers, but also find their profit in so doing. As to what weeds are, they have been defined; as before stated, as being any plant whatever, put of place. That is wheat or Indian corn if growing anywhere, if not grown for profit, would be, or should be, considered a weed. Yet the more proper appellation of weeds are those plants noxious or not profitable to the cultivator. The late Dr. Darlington has given the most comprehensive and graphic monogram, originally written for the United States government, that we have seen, arranged according to the natural method or according to the plan adopted by Hooker, Tor rey, Gray, etc., giving the authentic scientific names of the genera and species so all may be able to understand them, and also the common names so far as they can he traced. Our author has so classified them that the reader will find no difficulty in the reading. The list is given in the author's style and language as follows: In this article the plants are divided into Phcsnogamous, or flowering plants, and Cryptogamous, or flower less plants; also into exogenous plants, or out side growers, as the oak; and endogenous plants, or inside growers, as Indian corn. (p.) denotes a perennial plant; (b.) a biennial; (a.) an annual, and (s.) a woody shrub or small tree.