The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-03-03

THERE Is prOmiscuOus mixing up of
seeds in moist soils. These will not germi-
nate if at considerable depth in average
Soils Where there is much looseness and
porosity of soil, where the air and heat
have chance to enter and penetrate,
those seeds, nearest the surface, will
vegetate; those deeper, removed from
these influences, will lie dormant, some
times for many years. Turn them up to
the light and warmth of the air and they
will at once vegetate. A deep, close sod
will prevent their appearance hence old
pastures, good from the start, are COM
paratively free from weeds. But let these
pastures run out, and the weeds appear.
In blowing land so as 10 bring these
seeds to light, there will be termination,
only, however, of those that lie nearest to
the surface, as stated This nearness is
| depending upon the size of the seed. In
general soils the depth of % to 80 dame
tiers of the seed, will prevent quickening
| into life. Hence there are seeds lying
dormant at the first blowing of old sodded
lands, particularly those deepest. Another
blowing will still leave some at a depth
not reached by atmospheric influence
And so the third blowing. But in course
| of time all the seeds will thus be brought
up to terminate, and if destroyed as they
terminate, will rid the soil Of them. This
may be done in few years, where the soil
has not been deeply tilled-in a still less
| time where it is mellow and porous, and
the color is dark, so as to attract heat
| But where the soil is rigid one, cold and
heavy, clay soil, and where it has been
deeply plowed, especially for many years
back, it will be more difficult to eradicate
weeds-it will take longer
The doctrine then is, destroy all weeds
| by thorough cultivation, much stirring of
the soil, preventing their seeding, and the
introduction of new ones. II is hence
necessary that seeds sown be pure.
T0 cut weeds at the "proper" time as
it is called, has many advocates; and we
know well enough that it has an effect !;
but it will not do the work satisfactorily
it will not clean the land This must be
done, from necessity, by mechanical
means in the soil the plants must not be
permitted to see the light. They must
continue to be buried (vegetated) in the
earth; that will be their death. This is
the practice of the best farmers; we know
this to be effectual.
Cultivate the soil; and throw to the air
This during the most growing time, and
as the seeds are exposed they will vege-
f tate and shrivel, and the work continued
|
means 1t is the resort by those who
f make fallows. But we are disseminating
our fallows, and the weeds are multiply
: ing.
/ 1t pays, it pays largely to at once gel
r rid of the weeds. 1t gives us so much
4 space; in word, adds so much to the land
| to say nothing OF the clean grain, hay also
where we are so much pestered Their
how is it with the land? Does any one
pretend that the outlay of work does MOI
, | pay in the improved condition of the soil
Here IS double benefit, most decidedly
1 But we must begin early, early in The
. spring-fall still better-ere the weeds ge
y the start of us, that is, ere they appear
: above ground that is the point preven
them from seeing the sun which impart
its vitality to plants when its light comes
! in contact with them. Begin your fallow
and pillow three, four, five times or more
, Flowing alone is sufficient; it is soon anC
easily done and, once done, with care aftsl
that, it may be easily kept, not only free
' from weeds, but mellow and in good condi
: ton, withstandlng drouth and drawing of
2 the surplus rains 1t will thus be seen tina
| we must work to kill the weeds. w,
Y must take the work in hand beginning
: seems to be the worst.
v for treatment the coming season? II
\ the fall, late, he may sow wheat or rye, o
t put the land in barley, or any grain (wha
. will not grow them the spring following
Wheat or barley is the best, and especial!
o if the land is to be seeded down. Thi
will make 8 finish of all weeds in stat
\ of decay, if any are left, that is seed
: vegetated; We expect no mature plants il
,, the soil, not single one A field a yea
= thus treated, the farm will soon be rid O
! weeds.
n Where fences are infested with weed
- also, if practicable, remove the fence, AM
:, treat the soil the same as the rest. Wher
- fences must remain, clean out without re
. moving This must be done, or it will b
= seen what the effect will be, the fence Wi
q be the Matching place to resow the farm
p" If this is too much work, then the weed
must remain, and increase as they now dc
e in some places not half crop being rea
lied; this extending to whole farms
le But it will pay; it will pay largely ant
9 as we have said, in more than one way
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