Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1839-11-22

Destruction OF WEEDs.-The farmer
who suffers his fields to be overrun with
weeds, of any kind. without an effort 10 de-
stroy them, we consider very much 10 be
blamed. The farmer should resist the be-
ginning Of the evil and when he finds his
farm invaded by an enemy in the form OF
thistles, white-weed. bur-weed. &c, he should
commence vigorous attack and repe the
enemy at blow il il can be done without too
much expense But what does il mean to
cut an mere Of ihisties close TO the ground
with case knife and sprinkle salt on each
plant a task indeed and think the time
should not be spared A few years since,
the best part OF my farm was completely
overrun with thistles. | have very nearly
ex,erfhinated this pest upon my premises,
and think without any expense thorough
tilluge. manuring thoroughly, and thor
oughly seeding when laying down TO grass,
and manuring when the ,hislles are in bloom
has "done up" the thistles and given them
leave Of absence. When hoed crops are
upon the ground, my practice has been TO
hoe down the thislles four or FIVE times du.
ring the season; my crops were excellent
and cnn,truly say that thinksI destroyed
my thistles without cost A few years ago
| had large quantity OF clover chaff in my
barn, which Iwished 10 have cleared out Of
my way. sowed al the rate OF forty or fifty
bushels Of chaifto the acre. upon a piece OF
land which had before yielded thslles as
"thick as hail stones" Mr.. Clover was
good enough to take possession ofthe soil as
the rghtful occupant TO the exclusion OF Mr.
Thistle, and farther the fertility of the soil
was increased so that the succeeding crops
were much greater than before. Wo to the
farmer who is s;ingy in the use OF grass seed.
Now let us talk of white weed. Some of
our farmers are very much alarmed and
dread The appearance oflhis weed as much
as lift were the ghost oflheir bitierest enemy.
Ii is pernciouc weed undoubtedly, and il
a farmer have but a few square rods OF
ground infested with this weed he should
sprinkle brine and rid himself Of the pest
But suppose a farmer has an acre OF land
overrun with this weed, what is to be done
To exterminate bad weeds upon lands that
are encountered with s,umps, and old logs,
is difficult task indeed Let all these OBJ
siructious be cleared away SO that the plough
may turn a complete unbroken. furrow, and
TO good Depth from one end to the olher.-
Then let this acre be put to hoed crops corn
is the best Of all. for the stalks grow in
a straight direction. and we may cot down
the weeds as often as necessary through the
whole season without injury to the growing
crop, if done with care Let thirty or forty
loads ofmanure be put upon an acre coin
must be well MANFRED and this will aid the
succeeding crops, which growing rapidly
will check the growth of weeds. After ia
king crop Of corn, SOW for the next crop,
some kind Of grain best suited to the soil and
sow not less than twenty-five pounds OF clo-
yer seed upon this acre. The next year
grass crop is to be grown and perhaps two
bushels Of plaster of paris sown evenly over
the surface will force forward the clover
which is struggling 10 take possession of the
soil lin spite" OF white weed After taking
a crop Of clover. fthe white weed is still OBJ.
siinate il is good policy TO try again with
corn, always taking care to do work thorou-
ghly and persevere till the object desired is
accomplished.
BY following the course have mentioned,
a farmer may get rid of bad weeds without
expenses, thorough tillage, thorough manu-
ring, and thoroughly seeding with grass
seed is Just what is wanted if no bad weeds
infested our fields. know not, Mr. Editor,
what may be thought ofwhat have written,
but believe that the method have recon.
mended will extermnate the worst weeds
under heaven. OF a; least render them harm.
less MAINE FarmerI