Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-05-25
NEGLIGENCE IN AGRICULTURE.

| think a subject of this kind very
proper one for your journal, and by point
ing out some of the respects in which so
many Of our farmers are negligent, may
prove of more or less use to a large class
of them | believe farmers lose more by
neglect than by bad cultivation. Let me
notice some of the most common. When
ever | hear a man complain that his land is
overrun with thistles, oxeye daisy, wild
carrot, mustard, narrow leaf dock, &c, &c,
| at once say to him that there was a time
when he might have destroyed all of these
noXiOus weeds by few minutes labor, but
your neglecting them and passing them by
has proved the old saying that stitch in
time saves nine When he first saw that
villainOus plant on his land, there was but
one or a dozen of them, and he might have
destroyed them with his hand or hoe or
weed-hook, in few minutes; but he passed
on, thinking a few of no consequence, I'M
til at last he found their name was legion.
The next year their seeds are scattered by
the wind over his neat and tidy neighbours
fields, as well as his own, when once he
might by few minutes eXertion have de-
stroyed the whole army
His more tidy neighbor on whose land
vicious weed was never allowed to grow, is
out with his weed-hook, trying to extract
the weeds, but finds springing up in all
parts of his land weeds that have grown
from seeds blown from your land, and Won
ders whence they came Such farmer
would to Justice to himself and neighbor,
if in his walks over his fields he should
carry in his hand weed-hook, which is
90, 10 ,,I lx- hI-n
by taking staff the size and shape of a
hoe handle, and putting an old chseil in one
end and a hook with two or three prongs in
the other, which will enable one to extract
all kinds Of noxious weeds; and never allow
one noxious weed to grow a moment after
your discovery of it, and not do as many of
our negligent farmers do when they see
weed of this kind, say will destroy it
on my return home, or when | get more
time" This is not the way to do. know
this by experience. If you neglect to de-
stroy the weed at once, you will surely not
destroy it at all you may not see it again;
you may not return that way you will
wait until you have nothing else to do, and
that time will never come; consequently
your weeds will never be destroyed, and
what will be the result? They go to seed
each seed producing its kind and yield
ing 500 seeds they grow and go to seed,
and are scattered over the fields, and each
500 seeds produces 500 more in their turn,
and so on until you have millions of weeds
growing on your land. In your walks over
your farm let the staff in your hand be a
well constructed weed-hook you can pro-
tect yourself as well with such a cane or
staff, as with any other.
This is the true and sure way to rid
yourself of all noxious weeds as soon
as they make their first appearance
Take them from the beginning and you
will conquer. Farmers are apt to let the
roadside bordering on their land get seeded
down with all kinds of nOXious weeds, and
this often accounts for their land first get
ting seeded with weeds Keep your road
as free from weeds as you would your farm.
If taken in time it requires but short time
and little labor, and with an old scythe you
can destroy them or prevent their going to
seed If large quantity should be cut,
save them, as they make an excellent litter
for barnyards.
Farmers be particular in draining your
land. A thorough system of draining is
one of the essentials Of good farming
You lose much valuable time and land by
allowing water to stand on your land.
Draining thoroughly lengthens the season
for crops Moisture is absolutely y necessary
for the growth of plants, but an excess is
injurious.
The subject before me opens such vast
field for thought, | know not where to stop;
but for fear l have already taxed your
journal too much, | will bring my remarks
to q close r G. Kp1spv