WEED PEST

Feilding Star, Volume 6, Issue 1353, 13 March 1928, Page 7

WEED PEST

WATCIT THIS CONY OLV UI7US

(For tlie Star, by C. A. Plilip)

One of the most difficult of our garden weeds to e radicate is the wold convolvulus or bindweed. Once allow it to obtain a footing in your garden patch, and you can tlieu say good-bye to the success ot your blooms and vegetables, lor the underground root power ot the convolvulus practically strangles the growth of any plant encircling it like the clutch of an octopus.

The long underground roots and runners ai*c the secret of this plant’s tenacity of growth, and unless Ll l o whole root is taken up the remaining shoots will spring to do send up shoots, and flourish as strong as ever. Ev c n the roots left lying on the rubbish heap will seek the around to establish growth. It is oiiß by drying or burning that its vitality can be destroyed.

To some- folks the wild convolvulus is a thing of beauty, gracefully climbing about their hedgerows and in some instances their .dwellings But the reality is a. different tale, for it menus hard work and continuous efforts to ge trid ol it. This note may lie ol value to some who as vet do not realise- the dangei of tlie spread of this obnoxious weed ill their beautiful gardens. In some parts of England, partieupartieularly on loose sandy areas, tlie convolvulus arvensis had proved curse, as it practically takcis possession. Over 20 different varieties of the convolvulus are to be fo’jH m various parts of the world, atm. the roots of some of the species, notably convolvulus stammonia, possess hig.'i medicinal properties'.