Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-09-02
Ex,tHMlNAgiNa WEEDS.


q Places Free from Noxious Growths.
Most farmers devote q considerable
amount of time each year to destroy
ing the weeds that grow on their
places, and on this account they won.
der that they increase so rapidly. They
keep their corn-fields clean, or at least
do so till quite late in the season. Many
burn their grain stubble in the fall,
with a view of destroying all the seed:
OF weeds that have matured. Not j
few NOW their pastures after haying is
over, so as to prevent the weeds grow.
ing there from ripening their seeds.
Sometimes farmer ''takes day" dur.
ing the fall for moving the weeds that
grow in the dOOr-yard and about the
farm buildings. Sometimes they are
collected in heaps and burned after
they have become dry, but in the ma
jority of cases they remain where they
were cut off or are thrown into the
barn-yard or hog-pen. 1t appears to
be taken for granted that the seeds OF
weeds will be destroyed if they are
devoured by animals or if they are
tumbled under their feet. Still. every
observer has noticed that many kinds
of weeds spring up from the dropping
of cattle and that old dung-heaps are
covered with weeds. These things af.
ford evidence that the vitality of many
kinds of seeds is not destroyed by pass
ing through animals
There are many reasons why weeds
increase on farms, Notwithstanding the
efforts made to keep them in subsection
or to exterminate them. Most kinds OF
weeds are very prolific. They produce
thousandfold, while crops cultivated
for their seed. like wheat and rye, pro.
duce but ten. twenty or thirty times the
amount that was planted. The seeds
of weeds are endowed with wonderful
vitality. They will endure freezing
and thawing with impunity. They
will spread after they have been water.
soaked for many months. They dc
not lose their terminating power by
being buried in the ground for several
years. Few of them are destroyed as
the cultivated grains are. Birds that
have the power of digesting them dc
not care to eat them. The plants them.
selves have great power of endurance.
They will thrive during a drought that
will prevent the growth not only of cul.
tivated plants. but grasses and clovers.
They will grow where the fields are
flooded to such an extent that corn, po-
tatoes and wheat are killed. Ordinary
winds produce no injurious effect on
most kinds of weeds. Almost any kind
of a season seems to be a favorable one
for the weed crop. There has been nc
entire failure of crop of any sort OF
weeds since the country was first set
tied.
Many plants classed as weeds com.
mence to ripen seed very early in the
season, and continue to mature them
Them until they are killed by the frost.
Some are very deceptive about the
time they produce seed sufficiently ma
ture to terminate. Hard or we'll
formed seed may be found at the base
Of flowers that show no signs
Of falling from the stalks.
Many weeds will ripen their seeds if
hey are pulled up when the first
blossoms appear on them. The sap
in the stalks and leaves will |
De appropriated to the seeds that
we're in process of formation when the |
plants were pulled from the ground or
we're cut off. Many weeds cut by the
'cythe or hoe close to the ground will |
throw up sprouts, as trees and BUSH
IS do, which will mature seed in the
course of the season. Several kinds of |
weeds will take root after they have |
'een pulled out of the ground. A
,reat naturalist has shown that the an
mails that are of the least value to the |
world or which are positively injurious
lave the strongest hold on life. They |
will continue to live under circum-
tances that would kill creatures that
re of value to mankind. The same is
rue in relation to the slants known as
weeds.
A great mistake is made by many
Who desire to keep their farms in good
ondition in respect to weeds in allow
ng them to grow too long. No atten-
ion is given to eradicating weeds dur
NC the season of cutting grain and
'rass. During this season they
lake vigorous growth. and
ften perfect and drop their
eed. Another mistake is that of al
owing portions of plowed land to re-
lain without being seeded to valuable
rops. There is often a strip of land
t the end of corn and potato fields
nat was plowed so poorly that no at
empt was made to plant it. The un-
ven surface catches the seeds that
re blown over the field, and the
round becomes covered with weeds,
lany of which attain a large size.
ONE farmers who destroy the weeds
l their own fields and pastures allow
lem to grow on the side of the road
l front of their places. They Go not
ppear to consider the fact that weeds
ave no respect for arbitrary lines or
ire fences. They must know, if they
i've thought to the matter, that weeds
lat grow on the side of a road will
lrnish seed that will find its way to
he land they cultivate. Chicago
tines.