P U B L I S H ED 

IN  F E B R U A R Y,  M A R C H,  A P R I L,  A U G U ST  A ND  S E P T E M B ER  BY 

O.  M.  S C O TT  &   S O NS  C O .,  M A R Y S V I L L E,  O H IO 

Seventh  Year 

Number  32 

PURSLANE 

THIS  lawn  weed  is   so  much  of a hot 

weather  pest  that  it  seldom  bothers 
lawns  that  are  given  an  early  start.  Yet, 
when  new  lawns  have  the  disadvantage 
of  being  planted  in  late  spring,  Purslane 
is  frequently  responsible  for  their  com-
plete  failure. 
This  weed 

sunlight,  which  bring 
sprouting. 

about 

their 

Its  succulent,  rapid  growing  nature 
makes  Purslane  an  excellent  hog  food. 
These  animals  relish  it  probably  because 
its  fleshy  stems  and  leaves  are  juicy  and 
plump. 
In  earlier  times  Purslane  was 
used  as  a  pot  herb  and  is  edible  enough 
to  be  employed  as  an  ingredient  in  a 
salad  for  table  use. 

fond  of 
old,  abandoned  vegetable  gardens,  and 
poorly  cultivated 
fields.  Topsoil  sold 

is  especially 

PURSLANE,  Portulacea  oleoracea 

from  neglected  farms  is  quite  apt  to 
contain  an  overabundance  of  Purslane 
seed.  The  soil  used  in  the  construction 
of  new 
is  often  contaminated 
with  its  seed.  Tests  have  shown  that 
Purslane  seeds  remain  viable  in  the  soil 
for  many  years  before  being  scratched 
to  the  surface  in  reach  of  moisture  and 

lawns 

Purslane,  otherwise  known  as  Puss-
ley,  Wild  Portulaca,  also  Pigweed  and 
Duckweed,  is an  annual  reproducing  by 
self-seeding.  While  its  foliage  and  roots 
do  not 
the 
growing  season  its  thick,  fleshy  stems 
will  take  root  again,  even  though  the 
plants  may  be  uprooted  by  cultivation. 

live  over  winter,  during 

C O P Y R I G HT  BY  O.  M.  S C O TT  &  S O NS  C O. 

It is a prolific  seeder  until  the  first  heavy 
frost  completely  kills  the  entire  plant. 

When  new  lawns  are  built  it  often 
that  weed  seeds  of  various 
happens 
in  the  soil, 
kinds  are  deeply  buried 
especially  if  the  topsoil  is  covered  up  in 
excavating  and  subsoil  thrown  on  top. 
In  later  years  the  lawn  may  be  re-made 
and  when  the  ground  is  turned  over 
such  weed  seeds  as  Purslane,  still  pos-
sessing  the  spark  of  life,  are  brought 
near  the  surface  and  during  a  period  of 
hot  weather  they  germinate. 

How  to  Identify 

Without  the  use  of  color  our  illustra-
tion  does  not  make  the  weed  as  readily 
recognizable  as  if  the  reddish  stem  and 
yellow  flowers  were  reproduced.  The 
fleshy  stem, which  is often  more  pinkish 
than  red, 
is  smooth  and  contains  a 
juicy  sap.  The  weed  has  a  central  root 
from  which  the  stems  branch  out  freely 
resulting 
in  a  matted  growth.  The 
leaves  are  wedge  shaped  and  cluster  at 
the  end:  of  the  branches.  Small,  solitary, 
yellow 
flowers  which  open  only  on 
sunny  mornings  are  at  the  center  of 
each  leaf  cluster. 

The  fruit  or seed capsule  is urn-shaped 
and  opens  transversely  with  the  top  fall-
ing  off  like  a  lid.  When  near  maturity 
the plant  can  hardly  be touched  without 
sowing  the  ripened  seeds  by  the  hun-
dreds.  Purslane  is  most  tenacious  of 
life,  often  re-establishing 
itself  after 
being  badly  battered  and  partially 
destroyed.  The  fleshy  stems  and  leaves 
sustain  the  life  of  the  plant  while  it  is 
becoming  re-established  in  the  soil. 
It 
is  for  that  reason  extreme  care  must  be 
exercised 
in  disposing  of  the  plants 
after  they  are  taken  from  the  lawn. 

Means  of  Control 

this  subject  which 

A  general  statement  is  given  by  most 
authorities  on 
is 
simply  this:  Hand  pull  or  hoe  out  the 
plants  before  they  reach  the  stage  of 
maturity.  When  the  seed  cones  have 
formed  the  damage  will  already  have 
been  done.  One  authority  believes  that 
Iron  Sulfate  will  kill  Purslane,  but  most 
observers  believe  it  best  to  rely  upon 
removing  the  plant  from  the  soil. 

To  present  a  further  means  of  con-
trol  we  quote  as  follows  from  H.  B. 
Musser  of  the Department  of Agronomy 
at  the  Pennsylvania  State  College: 

"I  have  found  a very effective  method 
of  keeping  Purslane  under  control  in 
new  seedings is to rake  it up  thoroughly 
before  each  clipping  with  a  short,  sharp 
tooth  rake. 
I  use  a  rake  the  teeth  of 
which  are  just  about  one  inch  long  and 
one  inch  apart.  This 
is  sufficient  to 
catch  the  stems of  Purslane  but  does  not 
tear  up  the  grass.  While  this  treatment 
will  not  kill  the  weed,  it  discourages  it 
to  such  an  extent  that  it  will  not  crowd 
out  the  grass.  I  know  of  no  other  treat-
ment  for  its  control  except  hand  pull-
ing.  Of  course  the  first  frost  will  kill  it." 

We  shall  be  interested  in  knowing  to 
what  extent  Purslane  has  been  discov-
ered in  your lawn  and  how,  if  at all, you 
have  been  successful  in  getting  rid  of  it. 

rrIn  general 

those  weeds 

numerous  which  rise 
those  most  difficult 
which 
from 
HALE,  The  Compleat  Body 
bandry,  1756. 

come 

are  most 
seeds; 
and 
from 
to  be 
extirpated 
roots"—THOMAS 
of  Hus-

O.  M.  S C O TT  &  S O NS  CO. 

MAR Y S V I L LE  •  •  O H IO 

EVERY  PACKAGE  OF  SCOTTS  L A WN  SEED  BEARS  THIS  TRADE-MARK  A ND 

IS  SEALED  FOR  YOUR  PROTECTION 

32 a