The Weekly Kansas chief. [volume] (Troy, Kan.) 1872-1918, 1875-09-23
fur the far,.ler.
nKsrRoYING WERns.

We have many inquiries for the best way of
DESTROYING certain weeds There are general
principles, which, if comprehended, might be
readily and understandingly applied to any one
individually. Weeds are of two kinds-annuals
and biennials, which are spread by seed; and
creeping-root perennials which extend by the
roots. The former include rag-weed, fox-tail,
pig-sssd, purslane, cookie, wild mustard, shep-
herds purse, chick-weed, red-root, wild camO-
mile, burdock, MULLEN, horse thistle, chess, &c.
The latter include milk-weed, quack grass, Can
ada thistle, toad fax, &c. To kill the ANNALS,
the process is simple and alike for nearly all
namely, TO destroy them just as they are about
to peep above the surface, by narrowing, If III
large fields or by the mandrake, in small gar
dens Keep the surface constantly clean and
mellow if you go over 1t often, the weeds can
never get any Roadway; the soil will be kept
from crusting, and rendered in excellent condi-
ton for crops. We read lately of farmer who
had become utterly discouraged with the in
crease Of weeds, his Summer falow being encum-
bered with their rank growth equal to ton per
acre. Now, no good Summer fallOw ever had a
weed growing on it; the object of a fallow is to
clear the ground, and if necessary it shoald be
stirred up mellow as often as once q week with
harrow or two-horse cultivator. ALWAYS kill
annual weeds before they come up. When the
soil is foul with their seeds, the stirring process
should be repeated many times until all are
cleared out-plow, harrow, cultivate cultivate
plOw, harrow. In some cases, it may be expedi-
ent to keep field in summer fallow two success
sive years, in order to clear out all the seeds in
Others, the clean and thorough culture of hoed
crops, or dense broadcast seeding, may effect the
desired purpose. But quick, thorough work is
always the cheapest. An unequal, prolonged
war is the most costly. Biennials are to be
treated nearly as ANIMALS; but if they obtain
foothold the first year by careless management,
they should be cut below the surface early the
second season.
Perennial rooted weeds, like the milk-weed and
Canada thistle, require double treatment. They
must not be allowed to go to seed and spread in
this way. After once in possession, they are to
have different treatment from ANIMALS. As q
general rule, they are more easily extirpated.
They may be thoroughly destroyed in one season;
the seeds OF ANIMALS often require several years
to free the soil from them. Taking Canada this
ties as the representative of this Glass; the pro-
cess for their destruction is exceedingly simple
namely, smothering. We find no difficulty and
little expense, in completely killing patch be-
tween June LIST and October. Plow under, deep
ly, thoroughly and without any balks, SO that no
green point of the plant can ever see the light,
and three or four months will do the thing COM
pletely. The same treatment will finish other
weeds. A twelve-acre field of
quack grass was completely eradicated in one
Summer, but the pillow and harrow passed as Of |
ten as once a week. |
One of the most difficult weeds to root out and |
keep out is the ox-eye daisy. 1t increases both |
by seeds and roots and it is spreading rapidly all
through the country. Yet there are some good |
farmers living in regions where the country is |
al white with them, who have not single plant |
Of this weed on their farms. The remedies are /
Summer fallow, rotation with frequent hoed |
crops, dense clover crops and manipulating. If |
the first three well attended to- there will be
little hand-work required. The |
clover must be sowed much thicker than COM |
mon, say at least half bushel per acre, on a |
well-prepared mellow surface.-Country Gentle-
man.