The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1878-09-05
P FOR

Graduating WeeQS.-A st. Lawrence
County correspondent of the Country
Gentlemen writes: In exterminating
weeds, a general cooperation among
farmers is a necessity. We have q
statute making it the duty of farmers to
cut the weeds in the highway at certain
seasons of the year, but no law prohib-
iting a slovenly farmer from producing
as good crops of mustard, daisies and
Canada thistles as he wishes, and multi
flying the efforts of his neighbors to
keep their farms clean. There are some
weeds, such as pig weed, etc., that infest
gardens and yards, but never thrive to
any extent in fields, and these are easily
cared for. The principal field weeds
are mustard, daisies and thistles, and they
should be destroyed wherever they show
their heads. Mustard is always found
in grain and in meadows during the
first crop. Daisies. are only found in
meadows, and thistles are found in both
grain and grass. 1t lisa comparatively easy
matter to exterminate daisies when the
job is done right. If daisies are in a
meadow, unless they are too thick, it is
net a difficult matter to go over the
meadow, and by using an instrument
made for the purpose, and something
like a hoe, only with sharp, strong teeth,
instead of a blade, dig out the roots.
The instrument may be obtained from
any well-stocked seed store. 1t is an
easy matter to pull up daisy roots after
a rain, when the ground is soft. The
best season in which to undertake the
job is when the daisy is in blossom
there is less danger of missing any in
going over the field. As fast as daisies
are pulled they should be burned, or in
some other manne effectually destroyed.
There is danger of the seed being
sufficiently ripe to germinate il, it has
a favorable chance. If as is too often
the case, the daisies are too thick to
warrant this method of destroying them,
a good way is to cut the invested
meadows early, and notlet a single daisy
ripen its seed. By always cutting daisies
green, and cultivating the field a few
seasons, daisies may be effectually exter.
minated. A good crop of clover has
good effect on daisy roots.
A hoed crop is a good thing fol
Canada thistles, if the work is thor
oughly done. But a hoed crop poorly
cared for, is the worst possible thing fol-
any kind of weeds, being much more
apt to increase than destroy them. Like
other weeds, Ghistles should not be al
lowed to 60 to seed. Cut them green
and, if possible, when the stalks art
hollow, and it is certain to destroy tn,
roots. A single patch of thistles allowed
to ripen will seed the farms for mile!
around, and cause an endless amount O
vexation and expenditure of time ant
money. Mustard is fully as vexatious
pest aseither daisies or thistles. Summe
following and care in using none bu
clean seed will clean the farm of/mus
tard. A very good way to treatfandf flo
mustard is to goover stubble land in tn
fall with adrag. The mustard seed will
nearly all grow, instead of lying in tn
ground to grow in the next years. CROP
To exterminate weeds is a task tina
requires the hearty cooperation of al
farmers. 1t is, of course, not an impos
sibility for a farmer to keep his farn
clean, even when surrounded by farm
covered with noxious weeds. But thos
who have tried it, or even witnessed tn
efforts of others, know that it requires a
unlimited supply of patience and III
firing vigilance. For seeds are dissen
mated SO easily, and grow SO vigorously
that the careful farmer is always on th
alert. 1t is in this respect that cooper
alton among farmers would be yer
beneficial.