Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1875-07-16
Concerning Weeds.
By MRS. MARIA P. RICE.

BY MRS. MARIA P. RICE.
There has been much discussion the last
two or three years as to what is the "wick-
edest weed" in the world. Warner, as every.
body knows, commenced II In his entertain
ing book, "a Summer in My Garden" in
which parsley" plays a prominent part-a
weed for which the author has such horror
that he cannot even write the word in full.
Next, contributor TO the Christian Union
contends that "chickweed" is worse still, n
charge hard to believe of such an innocent
looking plant, till we remember that the
seeds are well nigh indestructible, and find
out for ourselves that when we think We
have pulled it up by the roots, we have taken
little but the tops. Then lady comes out
in the same paper and declares that "milk-
weed is worse than either. She gives q
very interesting account of her trials with
that nuisance in certain field of hers, and
tells how, after all attempts to eradicate it
failed, she pulled every one up with her own
hands. have waited anxiously to learn
the result of her experiment, having had
some experience with weeds in general, and
having little faith in any efforts to extermi-
nate this one, or any other; but further,
that dcponent saith not" to my knowledge.
Now, l know the habits of all those vile
things, and not even the pen Of Warner
can exaggeratc the amount of annoyance aud
trouble they subject us to; but the wicked
est" yet, in my opinion, is "plantain." This
is my special grievance, aud, judging from
the past, is likely to remain 80. | have a
yard from which it is my ambition to baniSh
everything but the greenest grass, and with
one exception, l have succeeded, but am
baffled continually by this persistent "plan-
tain" For many years it has been hand.
to-hand fight. With perseverance that 10
great cause would have won a name and
fame in the world, have hunted that weed ;
and those Of my readers who have ever at
tempted to pull up pantain in the spring
and early summer can appreciate the labor.
Not seed is permitted to ripen, yet with
the first grass that audacious plantain is sure
to make its appearance, forcing its way to
the very doorsteps. Where do the seeds
come from think there must be an mex
haustible supply in the soil of the seeds Of
this and other weeds which will forever set
at defiance all the efforts of man to rid the
earth of these pests.
| knew a gentleman in a New Engla
village who was the personi6catiou of neat
ness, perseverance and thoroughuess. He
had garden from which every weed was
removed each day Sundays excepted) and
no garden or cultivated ground was near,
from which seeds would be likely to be
blown. That garden was cultivated fol
more than quarter of a century with the
same untiring vigilance and scrupulous care,
but did the weeds cease to appear2 BY nc
means
The author Of" Ten Acres Enough" be-
lieved in the determination of weeds, but
am inclined to think that the Dutchman whC
worked and argued with him was neare
right in his view of the matter.
Though some modern scientists distrus
the stories told Of the termination of seeds
taken from mummy cases and other ancien
receptacles, yet many seeds must be indis
tructible, except by fire. We read o
earth taken from fabulous depths, yieldiu
strange grOwths of plan Is before unknown
in the region. Who will venture to say hoy
many ages these seeds had laid in th
grOund2
GeOlOgists tell US that the seeds brough
from far northern countries by the DRIFT Of
former geologic age, still retain their vital
ty, and under favorable circumstances, may
germiuate. We may as we'll make up Ou
minds, then, to accept the situation and &
on fighting the weeds, as we do the Othe
, evils of this life.