The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-08-27

The United. States Public Health de-
partment on hay fever it's causes and
treatment.)
BY : DR.. HUGH S. CUMMING q
Surgeon General United States Public
Health Service
! The actual number Of hay fever
producing weeds is large and any
weed growing in great profusion and
with an abundance of wind borne
pollen possibly has its quota OF hay
/ fever victims Re+n @a~ r
One of the chief offenders is the
common rag weed, sometimes known
as ambrOsia, ora Roman NORWOOD,
because Its leaves resemble those of
the wormwood. The rag weed, is an
annual with leaves much cut and
thin. 1t has spikes of green flowers
at the end of the branches. 1t is
found along road sides and in dry
| places, especially in fields that have
been neglected after crop of wheat,
rye or oats has been harvested, in
early summer. 1t grows from one to
| five feet in height and blooms from
August to October or later 1t is
native of. America, is found in the
dry soils from Nova Scotia to Florida
and west to British Columbia and
Mexico. 1t is, however, comparatively
rare and local west of Kansas.
Others Offenders Are:
Giant rag weed, tall, unsightly
weed, also called the horse weed. It
grows from six to fifteen feet in
height with rough hairy stem. The
lower leaves are deeply parted with
separate margins. 1t is common in
most soils from Quebec to FLORIDA
and west to Nebraska, Colorado, and
New Mexico. In the moist land, near
the Gulf Coast, it forms bout 80 per
cent of all the rag weeds.
Western rag weed, perennial weed,
growing from two, to six feet in
height, from running root stocks,
thicker and stouter than the common
rag weed, covered with loose, shaggy
hairs and thick leaves. This is the
common form of rag weed in Louisi-
ana and, in the prairie country, In
the west. it generally replaces the
common rag weed. ~A"5 "t ~tr
False NORWOOD grows from Two
to three feet in height with small
white flowers resembling tiny cauli-
flowers. 1t is almost always in bloom
and may, therefore, cause hay fever at
any season Of the year. 1t is very
common along the streets and side
walks and in vacant city lots. It's
leaves closely resemble those of the
common rag weed but 1t can easily be
distinguished by the small white
flowers. 1t grows in Florida and
from Alabar1h to Texas The danger
Gus seasons from January to Decem-
Der.
Marsh Elder, an annual, growing
from three to six feet high, with a
rough, hairy stem and a small, nod
ding greenish- white head of flowers.
The marsh elder grows in moist
ground and wet places. It is com
mon from Nebraska &c louisiana, in
Texas and New Mexico. The danger
season is from August to November.
There is also a western elder, a west
ern plant, which grows from watery
creeping root stocks, with stems or
branches nearly simple, foot or two
high. This elder usually grows in
sandy, saline soil.
I Cookie Bur is a coarse annual, with
branching stems. The fruit consists
of rough burr with usually two
curved beaks covered with prickles
straight tipped or hooked. 1t grows
from two to six feet high and is
found usually in rich soil, especially
in moist places. It is dangerous from
June to. December. ~ ~
There is another western plant,
found in Minnesota. Saskatchewan
and the southwest which is also dan
gerous This is the false rag weed
which is rough, often covered with
grayish hair with leaves much di@
vided. The false rag weed is armed
with spines in more than one series.
These are long and fattened. The
tip is usually straight, the whole
head resembles a pear.
And last but not least on this list
we note the yellow dock, coarse
herb with small unsightly greenish-
brown flowers which grows from two
to three feet in height. The leaves
are strongly veined, with curled mar
gins.
In addition to these weeds it should
be remembered that certain grasses
are on the hay fever black list They
are abundant, wind pollenated, with
insignificant flowers, and an abund-
ance of pollen. They begin to pollen
ate in May and are one Of the most
common causes of hay fever COM
mencing at that season. Some of
the common varieties of hay fever
producers are timothy, Johnson grass.
canary grass and smut grass.