The Democratic sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1852-1853, 1853-06-22
"Pigeon Weed" in Ohio.

EDS, Quo CULTIvAToR:-l am destroys OF
obtaining some Information, through your
columns, respecting the best means OF de-
ktroying certain ncxous weed which is be-
coming quite prevalent on some farms In
this vicinity. 1t is called here "pgeon
weed" and may have other names else
where. | trust with partial description
YOU will be able to understand what's meant.
The weed is an annual; the seed germinetes
and generally comes up with the wheat iii
the iall, and in the spring is apt to keep
pace with or get ahead Of the wheat so as to
greatly injule the crop, during its early
growth. Its usual Nights about / inches;
has small, white flower in April or May,
and produces abundance of hard, tough
seeds, which ripen and mostly fall off before
the wheat is harvested, thus seeding the
ground for after years u. W. L.
Owrs Grove, Hancock county, Ohio, Aay,
1858.
REMARKS are we'll acquainted with
the weed above referred to, and excepting
perhaps the Canada thistle, no worse pest
can intest the goounds of the wheat farmer.
1t was first shown to us in the Office of the
Genessee Framer, at Rochester, N. y, a.
bout 90 wears ago, by one OF the pest far
mers Of that region, who had just begun to
notice it in his wheat fields, and was des-
rous of learning its name and character
In few years from that time 1t had become
disseminated through most of Western New
York, and has ever since caused much loss
and trouble to the farmers, although the
more skillful and enterprizing among them
have found means to eradicate and guard
apainst it. We believe it is also prevalent
in many parts Of Pennsylvania, Michigan
and Canada-but we have never seen any
OF it in Ohio, and never before heard of It's
existence in this State. It's introduction 4
a very grea eUl, and ifit is not already toe
widely diffused, there should be a combined
and efficient effort made to eradicate it, anC
especially to prevent its further dissemina
ton.
The botanic name of this weed, is Lithos
perman arVensiS. 1t is supposed to have
been introduced from Europe many years a
90, like numerous other weeds, along witt
seeds Of grasses Of grains. In some places
it is commonly called "red root" from th'
color Of its root. In Germany it is callet
sstein kraut," (stone weed from the very
hard nature Of its seeds; and this is also thu
origin of generic name, LithosperaaUna.
The name, pigeon weed is the most common
in this country, and is said to have origina
ted from the belief Of many farmers that th'
seed we're dropped on their wheat fields b.
wild pigeons.
It IS both annual and biennial. Its. tisua
habit is for the seeds to germinate in tn
fall, especially if the ground is stirred as 70
sowing wheat; then it ripens seed early TIN
following summer, and the plant dies. Bu
if the ground is not stirred till spring, th
seeds will then vegetate (unless some othe
crop speedily occupies the ground, ant
seed will be produced later in the summer
But the very hard nature Of the seed eau
ses it to vegetate slowly, hence on LAM
sown in the spring with oats, or barley, DC.
the grain usually gets SO much the star
that the weed does little harm, and oftel
does not vegvtate at all But then, thi
hard quality Of seed also makes it almost IN
destructable. and when once a crop Of it ha
sripened on the ground and been plowed in
the weeds will be found to appear for man,
years afterwards whenever the ground i
plowed and not speedily covered with othei