Smartweed Perennial Aug.-Sept.  Pink

    Sorrel Perennial June-Nov.  Red

    Wild carrot, Biennial July-Nov.  White
      Queen Anne’s lace

    Wild garlic, onion Perennial July-Oct. "

    Wild mustard Annual June-Oct.  Yellow

    Wild parsnip Biennial July-Oct. "

    Yellow daisy, " July-Sept. "
      ox-eye daisy,
      brown-eyed Susan

Yellow dock             Perennial     Aug.-Oct.      Green
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“The seeds of the wild mustard, like those of the plantain and other weeds, get in with the grain seed and so cause constant trouble.  Farmers feel that such weeds must be thoroughly gotten out of the fields.

“It is not our own native weeds which are so troublesome but the foreign ones.  Most of our worst weeds are foreigners.  They have come to this country as stowaways from across the seas.  They have fought for centuries and can keep the fight up over here.

“I am not going to give you a description of each weed we have.  This table, a copy of which is for each of you, will be, I think, of true help.  The study of weeds is something quite by itself.  It is for you to help prevent the seeding of weeds everywhere.  Do not carelessly scatter seeds.  Keep your own garden plots free from these pests by clean and careful cultivation.  Remember, too, the value of cover crops.

“There is another pest to fight.  This pest is of the animal kingdom and not of the plant kingdom.  Next Friday our talk is on animal pests, and how to destroy them.”

VIII

GARDEN PESTS

If we could garden without any interference from the pests which attack plants, then indeed gardening would be a simple matter.  But all the time we must watch out for these little foes—­little in size, but tremendous in the havoc they make.

“As human illness may often be prevented by healthful conditions, so pests may be kept away by strict garden cleanliness.  Heaps of waste are lodging places for the breeding of insects.  I do not think a compost pile will do the harm, but unkempt, uncared-for spots seem to invite trouble.

“There are certain helps to keeping pests down.  The constant stirring up of the soil by earthworms is an aid in keeping the soil open to air and water.  Many of our common birds feed upon insects.  The sparrows, robins, chickadees, meadow larks and orioles are all examples of birds who help in this way.  Some insects feed on other and harmful insects.  Some kinds of ladybugs do this good deed.  The ichneumon-fly helps too.  And toads are wonders in the number of insects they can consume at one meal.  The toad deserves very kind treatment from all of us.