Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-09-12
HAY-FEVER-PRODUCING WEEDS
by '" SCHEPPf:'RELL, A. NJ, VI. ID.
PrcSident American Pre-, A..ocutto,
OF the Days Best Cartoons.

Some weeks ago the American Hay
feVer- Prevention Association publish ed
through tho press It's general nstruc-
tons regarding gnc prevention of hay
lever. These directions avoided any
reference TO the general or local
causes which form the predisposing
factor TO hay fever, but were directed
to the destruction or avoidance OF the
noNious weeus whose pollen form the
exciting cause. They were limited
moreover TO the fall or most common
typo OF hay fever. commencing from
the first part of July TO the end OF
August and lasting for about six weeks
or until frost or maturity arrests The
poll!nating process.
The chief cause of the fall hay fever
is the pollen OF the two varieties Of
ragwced. While the instructions
aroused great deal OF interest ana
were utilized even by some Of the State
Boards OF Health, there was found to
be an unexpected Ignorance IN most
sections AS TO what constituted tho
'ragweed."
The generic name OF tho two rag
weeds Is Anbros!n. Az DR.. Cray
states: This Is !l-chosen FOR these
worthless and coarse weeds" The
common or wormwood variety is called
Artemisifolia' account OF it's
leaves resembling those OF the worm :
wood CArtemis!a) II is an annual
with leaves much cut and thin. oppo-
site and alternate. as shown In the
illustration. II has spikes OF green
flowers ts;aminate) at the end Of the
branches. The pist!llate or fertil.
flowers arc at the intersection OF the
branches with the stalks. II resembles
the common NORWOOD. which. how
ever, bears small Insignificant white
flowers
In the Middle and Northern states
the wormwood rarwecd is by far the
most frequent. being especially pre-
valent in neglected fields, yards and
roadsides. 1t is usually found in fields
where a crop Of wheat rye or oats has
been harvested in early summer and
afterwards neglected 1t grows from
one TO five feet in height
Found in Fields of Grain.
The great raEwecd Is called "Tri-
fda" on account OF it's large three
iobed leaves. II is the TALES, member
OF the composite group. and frequently
grows TO height of twelve feet II
has a stout stem with "A frost-likc
pith. The insignificant erccnish flow
ers form a terminal pointed cluster.
which arc staminate jmaie). The pis-
tilatc flowers, like tho worm wood
variety, arc located near the stalk. II
Is common In moist soil and in the low
lands near the gulf coast. forms about
90 per cent OF all tho ragwceds. In
try. the reverse is the case.
The irritating principles Of both rag
weeds Is formed in the spikc-li like
flower. being ycllowish In color, and
almost as light as smoke. It Is so
abundant that during the stage OF
pollination II Will stain ones clothes
yellow while passing through such
n field II is so extremely light that
II is almost impossible to collect any
amount OF IT without Its being blown
away.
Instead OF the pollen OF the rag
weed being used directly for fert!liza =
ton through the agency of insects. as
Is the case with most plants. nature
has created an immense amount Of pol
len so that II can he carried by the
wind to tho distant pistillatc flowers.
The pollen is so abundant that II the
ragweed is struck during the active
stage, the pollen will come of so freely
that IT Is called smoking" by many
farmers.
The seed is about l-2o-inoh in di-