The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-09-18
DISCRIMINATING Weeds.

MANY farmers express surprise at
the appearance and increase of weeds
on the land they occupy. They break
up a piece of virgin sod, and within
three or four years they find it well
nigh covered with weeds Of several va
rieties. They feel certain that they
did not SOW the seeds with grain, and,
as no manure was applied to the land,
they are at loss to understand how
the crop of weeds originated. The in
also mysterious to them. Considerable
care is taken to procure clean seed and
to prevent the growth of weeds during
the summer. The land is plowed in
the spring, so that small weeds are
buried too deep to allow them to
sprout. Some that are near the sur
face do sprout and obtain slight
growth, but they are killed by the use
of the harrow before crop is planted.
After planting is finished the soil is
worked largely with view of prevent
ing the growth of weeds. In many cases
a light harrow is used before the seed
planted in hills or drills comes up.
When the corn, potatoes and other
crops are few inches high the harrow
is again employed to keep the weeds
in check. A week afterward cult
vator is run between the rows, which
turns up the weeds that have made an
appearance, and leaves them to wilt
and dry up in the sun. In the case of
corn, castor-beans and some other
crops, the. hills are arranged in rows
running in two directions. so as to al
low the cultivator to work both ways,
as by this means it is thought the soil
may be kept free from the presence of
weeds. Later in the season the pillow
is used in the place of the cultivator,
but one or the other of these imple-
ments is kept in almost constant en-
ployment till the soil is shaded by the
growing crops.
Farmers generally calculate that the
sell in grain fields is so well shaded
that weeds have no chance to grow.
They do not think that weeds will ma
ture in meadows, as all the vegetation
is cut close to the ground very early
in the season. AS almost all weeds are
ANIMALS, it would appear that they
should be destroyed by cutting the
stalks close to the ground before they
exhibit signs of ripeness. But most
farmers who practice good husbandry
are panied to observe that weeds in
crease on their premises year by year.
They appear on the soil that season
before was beneath prairie sod. They
spring up, as if by magic, in fields that
we're planted to corn and most care
fully cultivated. They take root in
land already possessed by grasses that
are every year closely shaven with a
scythe. They grow on all kinds of soil,
and flourish in all sorts of seasons. ,r
Constant vigilance, untiring exertion,
botanic knowledge and practical skill
are all required to prevent the spread
of weeds over farms. It is notenough
to make the killing of weeds second
ary consideration TO the cultivation of
crops, but direct attention must be
given to them. Their habits must be
studied with view of finding out when
and how they are most effectively de-
stroyed. They must be fought at 9TH
er seasons of the year than the early
part of summer. They require more
attention in the fall than in the spring,
as prevention is secured at a smaller
cost than care. Fire is the most effect
i've means of destroying weeds after
they are removed from the ground.
By burning them their ashes are Sc
cured for the benefit of the soil. Co.
operation is required for extermin-
ating weeds in any neighborhood, for
if one farmer allows them to grow
on his land his neighbor will be
troubled by them.-Rvfsssor Welch, in