Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-04-01
AGRICULTURAL DEPARTMENT.
Conducted ny n. wsLksn MckskS.
on practical agricultural top
In ended for this department 10 Mr. Mckeen.
At fryeburg. Maine.
SUPPRESSION OF WEEDS.

TOE Various hoSo StVp-s IN e"c k>~
and moving field. TIL. oOns,an, viei-
lance, while !, tends 10 develop and
strengthen the faculties and increase the
resources Of the farmers intellect, Is not
conducive to res, OF peace Of mind. The
warfare IL carried 10 such an extent that,
sometimes. the mind Of the farmer be-
comes absorbed in ,hA, one pursuit OF
weed-killing and he can neither rest nor
sleep A. long as one vAgran, head shows
itself among his crops.
Weed. are peculiar in their nature.
They seem well adapted to stand all the
hariships and accidents that vegetable
nature Is subject 70 and still come up
fresh and vigorous. ready TO grow and
increase upon the first favorable oPPor-
,uni,y. They PAr,ake Of the nature OF
al ouica,is and stand Upon the verge of
civilization ready % take advantage Of
the fire, lack q diligence OF wA,ehfulne''
on the part Of the farmer They assume
every possible form and guiss, and push
themsel,e. forward towards the cultivated
fields. singly. in squads and whole bat
,alions. The air teens with their Seeds
borne upon the 6r, favorable wind TO Be
deposited and grow in some cultivated
spo, and laugh q, the farmers pains to
exclude them. They cling TO the wool
Of sheep md the hair Of COWS and horses
they attach ,hemselve. % every posi-
DE Conveyance iha, ~ill carry them across
the country and extend the domain Of
their power. They no, only call 70 their
u.e the wind. and the regular sources
above ground. ba, extend Al'o BY an an '
der-groand nilwAy peculiarly then own
one which extends ia al directions and.
~iih branches innumefable. Games IT,
b,nsfal occupsn, into every corner q
civilisA',oa
We were surprised 10 learn that 20
many u our mo., troublesome weeds
came from the Oll World And ,ha,
they flourish With an sasrgy in their new
home that o1id,e. their native vigof
Amons the wor., u these j. the Canada
thistle the creates, outlaw Of the whole
liz. the weed especially adapted TO live
AMI gro~ AMI foarish where everything
else refuses % start. standing con-
aaat menace 20 the passing school.boy,
and bidding defiance 10 every sii1f, 10
eSierminaic i, In iis utter uselsssne''
l. sufpas.e, every other gto~ing plant.
aud 10 ~ ability % do mischief lead. ,ee
van u wc,d. a.. pest. The road~ay.
seem @, be iu peculiar lurking place and
home. ~lcie !, siAnds ready 70 attach
/. .,sd. TO any passing object OF float IN
ar, lish,ne., into some nsighbof.ng field
and start anos 10 life q mischisf and
destruction. More has been sad and
written Abou, the destruction Of ,hi. one
weed than al other. combined. some ~ri'-
er. even con,endins thA, Il can only b.
es,ermina'el by oonsian, working Of The
sol for one season q the utter exclusion
Of al crops Bat. even after q season Of
such ear,fn and expensive culture. some
passing breeze may brins along seeds IN
numerable from the ,oaisiie % field Of
some careless neighbor and everything
20. for ao,hing. Where !, i a, all num-
eroa. the authorities should take the
matter in hand and. by legislation. OBJ
lse every osner q land TO keep The
roadside free from the pee, a' Ear as his
land extends Then. II necessary, 20
further and clean the fields by active and
energetic measures Of determination. John
Burroughs. in Notes Of Walker"
says
II know Of but one way crcciuAlly 20
treat u % put GA a pair Of ouekskin
gloves. aud poll Up every plant that shows
Itself. this will eject radical cure 10 two
summers"
Thi. i. course ,ha, can be easily fol-
lowed in the field and by the roadside.
alike. and i comparatively easy.
The ehiek-weed j, another greA, source
Of trouble TO every farmer and gardener.
I, has no, ye, pushed itself 80 far As the
thistle ba, is till dangerous plant, It.
Ways Of reproduction are such that, with
oa, any APparen, cause. il will soon be
perfectly Incorporated in any field or
lawn Ia which II may once ge, foot
hold. When once !; begins its ravAses
the Only way to sxierminA,e il l. TO pull
every branch. ROOT and hbre, carry them
from the ground and destroy them. No
halfway work will do. As il will grow
from every Join, and Is no, dePenden,
upon a roo, for a start. il soon rallies az
ter being apparently destroyed and Is
again rapidly pushing its insidiOu' way
into civilized society. This. also. Is q
plan, from the old world.
Among other foreigners are the bur
dock. ox-eye daisy, mullen. bu,ier-euP.
dandeliOn. plan,ain. eatniP. Pig-weed.
Wild radish and parsnip, and many 9th.
es. Many Of these have extended them
selve. into nearly every State and Terri
tory, and become familiar to every school,
boy.
sheeP-sOrrel, avile and PernieiOus weed.
also comes from abroad and fights It's way
With Per,insei,y worthy Of abe,,er cause
Its frequent hOeing and tearing with eul-
tiva,or and horse.hoe only seem 70 in.