Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-05-21
WEEDS.
Why 1t Is Easier to Introduce Weeds on
the Farm Than to Eradicate Them.

soil devoted to the production of cult.
waited crops. One Is increasing the
growth of the plants that are planted,
and the other is the destruction of those
that are of no value and absolutely
harmful. Now, as in the days when
the Bible was written, wheat and tares
are likely to be found growing in the
same field. The portions of this or OF
| any other country that produce the
| largest desirable crops also produce
the largest crops of weeds. A soil and
climate that are favorable to the pro-
duction of corn and potatoes are equal
| ly favorable to the production of rag
weed and cockle-bur. The better land
| is prepared and fertilized, the more
certain it is to produce large amount
| of weeds. Some of the most trouble
| some weeds, like the purslane and COM
| mon plantain. only flourish on land
that is in excellent condition to pro-
duce large crops of vegetables, flowers,
or grain. They are rarely found on
land that is deficient in the elements of
| fertility. They are very common in
| gardens where the soil has been care
| fully enriched and turned with the
| spade, but are seldom found on poor
land devoted to pasturage. Many of
| our most troublesome plants would be-
| come very scarce if the land on which
| they are found was allowed to return
| to its original condition.
A considerable portion of the last
| report of the Ohio agricultural expert
| ment station is devoted to the subject
of yUanIS Tho a,,ticla this Sr1h aot
considers the methods by which weeds
| are introduced, disseminated, and
propagated. their habits of growth and
| duration of life. and the best methods
of destroying them. 1t is shown that
of the 1872 weeds found ia Ohio, 115
were brought from Europe. Most of
| them "came over" in packing material
or mixed with the seeds of plants de-
signed for cultivation. American
weeds have been introduced into every
| country in the world with which we
have commercial intercourse. Several
of our most troublesome weeds were
| introduced during our war for indie
pendence. These seeds were in the
grain or fodder employed for feeding
English colony horses. Every war
causes the Introduction of weeds. If
but small number of any kind of
weeds obtain a foothold they are GER
tain to become very common. Nearly
all kinds of plants produce a great
number of seeds. The officers of the
Ohio station made their examinations
in the valley of the Scioto, where the
soil is naturally very rich and where
weeds obtain a greater size than in
most parts of the country. They found
that a single specimen of the weed,
generally known as the shepherds
purse, produced 1900 seeds, a dande-
lion produced II, 1O3 seeds, a common
thistle 1856. a rag-weed 1866, a pur-
slane plant 38S. 800, a burdock Sc, 1856,
a common plantain 45, 29O.
The possibilities of increase in some
of these plants are enormous. Of
course, some of the seeds counted or
estimated were imperfect, and would
most favorable conditions. Still, if
only half of them were perfect, it fol-
lows that one plant may in few years
be the means of seeding an entire State
Birds and animals will devour the
seeds of nearly all the cultivated plants
if they can get a chance, but they do
not eat the seeds of weeds. In most
cases they have a disagreeable taste,
which prevents them from being eaten.
They nearly all possess wonderful vital
ity. The germ mating power of all the
grain is destroyed by cold and mois-
ture. but the vitality of the seeds of
weeds is not affected by these causes
They will sprout if they remain frozen
all winter. They may be parched by
exposure to the sun, but they will
germinate as soon as they absorb mois-
ture. They may be buried for years,
but they will sprout and produce Wig
orous plants as soon as they are brought
near the surface of the ground. A
large proportion of them will pass
through the organs of digestion with
out injury to their vitality. and will
terminate in the drOppingS of the ami
NAL that devoured them. The increase
in the number of weeds is largely due
to the wonderful vitality of their seeds
or their power of preservation.
The seeds of weeds are disseminated
by he wind and by other sources of
nature. as running water. Birds carry
many of them from place to place
Some of them are provided with hooks,
selves to birds and animals. Every
farmer sows weeds with his grain.
Weeds are introduced into every new
section of the country by means of the
seed-grain obtained at distance. Too
little attention is given to the matter of
obtaining clean seed. Farmers also
introduce the seeds of weeds in their
fields by means of the manure they APP
ply to them Ii stable manure con-
tains foul seed it should be composted
a year before it is Incorporated with the
soil Many farmers who keep their
cultivated fields tolerably clean, and
who take pains to destroy the weeds in
gran-fields after the crop is harvested,
allow large plantations of weeds to re-
main undisturbed during the entire
season. While the cultivator is run
ming between the rows of corn and the
hoe is used in the garden for the pur-
pose of keeping the ground free from
weeds, these plants are growing and
maturing seeds along the sides of the
field, in fence corners. among the ma
nure heaps, and along the sides of the
road. The seeds of these weeds will
spring up in the cultivated portions of
the farm next season.
1t is much more easier to prevent
the growth of weeds than to destroy
them after they have attained a con-
siderable size. Clean culture becomes
easier the longer it is practiced. A new
farm should DE kept free from weeds
from the start. If any appear they
should be destroyed before they bios
som. Many kinds of weeds are very
6oceStiye in reSnect to the time their