Benzylhydroxylamines I ##STR1## (X=--N(R.sup.7)--O--; Y=O, S; R.sup.1 =halogen, CN, NO.sub.2, CF.sub.3 ; R.sup.2 =H, halogen; R.sup.3 =H, NH.sub.2, CH.sub.3 ;R.sup.4 =H, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylsulfinyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylsulfonyl;R.sup.5 =H, halogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl;R.sup.6 =H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkenyl;R.sup.7 =H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylcarbonyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkenylcarbonyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkynylcarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.8 -alkenyloxycarbonyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 -alkynyloxycarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylthiocarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylsulfonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylcarbamoyl, it being possible for the 14 last-mentioned radicals to have attached to them 1-3 substituents:NO.sub.2, CN, halogen, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkoxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkenyloxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkynyloxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylcarbonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylcarbonyloxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylsulfinyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylsulfonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylideneaminoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylcarbamoyl,unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, phenoxy or phenylsulfonyl,a 3- to 7-membered heterocyclyl or heterocyclyloxy group having 1-3 hetero atoms, it being possible for this group to be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic and to have attached to it 1-3 substituents,--CO--Z.sup.1 R.sup.9, --OCO--Z.sup.1 R.sup.9, --N(R.sup.9)R.sup.10 orR.sup.7 =unsubstituted or substituted cycloalkylcarbonyl, phenylcarbonyl, phenylsulfonyl, phenylcarbamoyl;R.sup.8 =H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkenyl or C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkynyl, it being possible for each of the 5 last-mentioned radicals to have attached to it 1-3 substituents:NO.sub.2, CN, halogen, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkoxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkenyloxy, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkynyloxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylthio, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylsulfinyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylsulfonyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkylideneaminoxy,unsubstituted or substituted phenyl- [sic], phenoxy-[sic] or phenylsulfonyl,a 3- to 7-membered heterocyclyl or heterocyclyloxy group having 1-3 hetero atoms, it being possible for this group to be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic and to have attached to it 1-3 substituents,--CO--Z.sup.2 R.sup.11, --OCO--Z.sup.2 R.sup.11, --N(R.sup.11)R.sup.12 ;Z.sup.1 a chemical bond, oxygen, sulfur or --N(R.sup.10)--;Z.sup.2 =a chemical bond, oxygen, sulfur or --N(R.sup.12)--;R.sup.9, R.sup.11 =H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 -alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, (C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy)carbonyl-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted phenyl or phenyl-C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl,orZ.sup.1 and R.sup.9 and/or Z.sup.2 and R.sup.11 together=a 3- to 7-membered heterocycle having 1-3 hetero atoms and bonded via nitrogen, it being possible for this heterocycle to be saturated, unsaturated or aromatic and, if desired, to have attached to it one to three substituents,R.sup.10, R.sup.12 =H, OH, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.8 -cycloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 -alkoxy)and the salts of I where R.sup.3, R.sup.7 and/or R.sup.8 =hydrogenare used as herbicides and for the desiccation/defoliation of plants.