The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-05-14
WEEDS PROMOTE HEALTH
Value of the Various Species Dee
scribed By L. il. Dewey.


the Vacant Lots in Cities and
Towns May Be Probably Utilized.
Weeds in Cities and Towns" is the
title Of a pamphlet written by Lyster II
/ Dewey. Assistant Rotanist of the De-
partmcut of Agriculture, and which, by
reason of its ti-ucliucss, has been reprint
cd and redistributed 10y the Department
In all cities and villages Mr. Dewey
says. there are vacant lots awaiting prr-
chasers, and ir many agricultural dis
tricts the unused land in towns often eX-
ceeds in proportion the unused land in
surrounding farms. These vacant lots are
held in expectation that they viii be used
some time for building sites, and their
value depends on their situation and
adaptabiIity for this purpose. Until
buildings are erected upon them they are
usually given up to whatever will grow
While unused land in the country is gen
orally covered with native vegetation,
chiefly perennial grasses ard Timber. that
III cities and towns has usually at some
time been under cultivation, so that the
native vegetation has been destroyed, and
its situation is such that it is most read
lily seeded with migratory weeds. The
seeds are introduced in the packing of
crockery, the sweepings from stores, rub
/ bish from yards. cleanings from stables
and stock cars, and in various kinds of
garbage and refuse, too commonly de-
posted on vacant lots. Sometimes lot
owners encourage the dumping of all
kinds of material on their land to bring
it up to the grade Of adjacent streets, and
when the desired grade is obtained the
made ground, full of weed seeds, is left
untouched The conditions for weed pro-
duction have been most admirably pre-
pared, and the natural result is a plentiful
crop Of weeds.
There Is no direct pecuniary incentive
to destroy the weeds, since no crops are
injured by their presence In fixing the
value Of a residence site the distant view
of mountain. lake or river is an item
OF considerable Importance, but a weed
across the street or on the next lot is too
often not taken into account
The weeds of cities and villages are
usually of the migratory class, Cosmopoli-
tan in character. and capable of thriv-
ing under a wide range of environment.
According to the early European works
on botany. plants from Asia, adventive in
Europe, usually appeared first in cities
Many of these plants are now found
about the cities and towns of this c0Un-
try. Others are native plants which have
withstood the changed conditions due TO
cultivation and have acquired a weed
like habit. IN the Eastern cities and in
those on the Pacific Coast Old World
species predominant, while in the cities
of the interior, especially in those west
OF the Mississippi River, there is Iarg-
er proportion of native plants The spe-
cies vary in different cities, IN different
years, and in different seasons.
In Washington. =. C, the wild onion
1f md orlr- laz-
the dandeiion and dubious buttercup; then
come the wild carrot prickIy lettuce, and
sweet clover, and these in turn are partly
displaced in the fall by horseweed, rag
weed. cocklebur, Mexican tea, slender
piGweed and jfrnson weed. ChiCory,
horse nettIe, burdock, and gum succory
are in abundant evidence throughout the
season
Among the most noticeable introduce
tfons in cities during the past ten years
are galinsoga in several cities of the
Northeastern States All methods of seed
dispersion are represented in city weeds,
IL. those weeds having seeds adapted for
distribution by wind or by burs are most
abundant. In the vacant land about
wooIen mills bur-bearIng weeds are espe-
ciaIIy abundant, while in the vicinity Of
grain elevators those weeds abound whose
seeds are frequently found in grain.
The presence OF weeds on vacant city
lots is not quite an unmixed evil While
young and growing they are certainly
more pleasing to the eye than the bare
ground or the more unsightly rubbish
which they conceal Some species, such
as oxeye daisy, wild carrot or Queen
Aune's lace and the wild asters, have
very pretty flowers that would be consid-
cred beautiful if they did not grow on
common weeds The pokeweed, with its
bright red stems, vaTiegated foliage, and
shining purple-black berries gives a touch
of brilliant autumn color; and poison ivy
which is too often retained in parks for
the beautiful effect Of its foliage in au-
Jumn, decorates as well many walls and
fences about neglected vacant lots
The weeds growing within easy reach
Of pupils and teachers in city schools fur
nish some material for botanical studies.
though this source Of material does not
seem TO arouse botanical enthusiasm like
a ramble IN the woods
Birds find in weed seeds 4 considerable
portion Of their food supply. and some
times make their nests in the larger
weeds; but cockleburs burdock, thfstIes.
ragweeds- and ether coarse species might
we'll be replaced by seed-bearing grasses
and clOyers, which are better liked by
seed-eatiug birds
''Asters, sweet cIovers, thistles, and
some other weeds when in flower furnish
honey bees with nectar. but if the coarse
weeds were cut there would doub +IeSs be
plenty OF money producing plants left for
the few bees which are kept in cities and
villages
Growing weeds, like other plants, pr1-
Tify the air, and herein lies the chief bon
eft conferred by their presence in cities
whore numerous fires in dwellings, fac
tories, ard locomotives. and the breath
ing Of the people continually rob the air
of its oxygen and charge it with carboaic-
acid gas Growing plants weeds as well
as others, reverse this process They
withdraw from the air carbonic-zcid gas
and sometimes other injurious cases and
give of oxygen, thus tending to purify the
air and keep il supplied with the most es-
Sential element 4 vacant lot covered
with healthy growing weeds is better for
the public health and is certainly more
pleasing to the eye than the bare ground
There is usually very little space for
children's Fairgrounds in cities and often
the open places that might be used for
such purposes, including the occasional
vacant lots iH sections where land is val
Ued at from SO to $50 per square foot, are
covered with coarse weeds and poisonous
plants in Washington, d. -. a vacant
lot three blocks from the White House
was covered during the summer Of 1898
with a luxuTiaut growth of burdocks, ~ en-
the signbOaTd being hidden ny the weeds
Opposite a million-dOiar mansion, in the