5
Because the land was not ploughed and hence the seeds inevitably buried, a small number
germinated and survived until I saw them in late spring, just in time to avoid spraying them with a
herbicide which I use primarily to control Cleavers (Galium aparine).
What I found most interesting this year, was the greatly increased vigour of the plants, no doubt
because they were autumn germinated. When I first saw them there was no doubt as to their survival
potential as the plants were the same height as the wheat and all season they maintained their
position, flowering much earlier so that they had fruited before August ready to be harvested with
the grain and consequently mixed with it for the next crop.
In the past this posed great problems because the seed is poisonous and no doubt too much in the
grain would make it unsaleable. The farmer lost not only through poisonous contamination but also
from severe competiticn to the crop from the growing plants.
The Corncockle's present scarcity is probably due to modern seed cleaning techniques which take
most, if not all, of the weed seed out of the grain before it is sown. Because it does not require a
dormancy period before germinating, the reserve of the seed in the soil is probably very low
compared with plants like the Poppy, which has a vast and long-lived soil population. But the most
important single cause of the decline of these plants is the great efficiency of today's herbicides
which readily kill the young plants. I can clearly remember the early days of modern weed control,
when every product seemed to claim good control of what are today's rarities such as Cornflower,
Venus' Looking Class and, indeed, the Corncockle.
For both the above reasons I do not expect to see more than the occasional plant in my crops -
thankfully.
David L. Bloomfield
WHAT'S ON
Fri. 22nd Nov. General Meeting 1364. "Owls" Talk by Phil Eckett at Merrymeade Conference
Centre, Sawyers Hall Lane, Brentwood at 7.30 p.m.
Sat. 14th Dec. Botany Meeting. Identifying Lichens by John Skinner at Southend Museum. Bring
specimens for identification. Meet 1.30 p.m. Phone John Skinner, Southend 330214 for details
about car parking.
Thurs. 26th Dec. Boxing Day Ramble. Marks Hill and the Plotlands. Meet Westley Heights Country
Park, Car Park TQ 682867 near Crown Public House at 11.00 a.m. 2 1/2 or 4 1/2 miles depending on
the weather. If wet, boots necessary.
NEW MEMBERS
Since the last Newsletter, the following members have joined the Club