The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1886-03-19
DESTROYING WEEDS.


lhem ns Ihey Appear.
Weeds entail more labor on the
farmer than can be estimated. Yet II
the labor annually bestowed in the en-
dcavor TO eradicate weeds could be APP
piled at proper times not only would
the nuisance be removed, but the labor
lcssencd. In the case Of weeds the
slightest amount Of labor saved in not
killing them when il should be done,
entails greater labor at other times
Nor is all labor on weeds lost. During
the eradication or destruction Of weeds
the crops may be cultivated and the
land put III better condition. One of
the gravcst mistakes Is in not DESTROY
ing the weeds when they first appear.
Ii will require less labor TO DESTROY
hundred weeds when they are young
than 70 Nil single plant after il has
made considerable growth, to say
nothing Of the fact that every weed
that reaches maturity and seeds
leaves greater work to be done after
ward.
Although farmers are busiest in
spring. and can moi afford. apparently,
to devote time to weeds when the corn
j TO be put in, yet BY properly prepar-
ing the land for the intended crop they
can gain time. For year or two the
farmer may find it difficult work COM
batting weeds. but the time so devoted
will be rcgained four-fold In after
years. Weeds can best be DESTROYED
when rotation Is used. and the ground
should be plowcd for corn early enough
~ the summer or fall To allow Of the
seeds sprouting. Now, this sprousing
Of the weed seeds Is the most important
part OF the process. and the farmer
should be willing 10 perform any
amount u labor il he can sprout them
~ time when they will not interfere
with growing crop.
A field should be cultivated without
any crop az all. In order TO clean il
thoroughly. II will be loss OF crop
and labor. but a gain in the end. Plow
y IN the latter part of the season, and
Then run in the cultivator over IL every
time II becomes covered with young
weeds and then follow with the har-
row. In the spring. after the corn il in.
and the seed field il we'll covered with
weeds, pillow IL again, before the weeds
can 60 to seed. and keep the cultivator
and harrow moving over it the whole
year, Thcncx spring put IL in corn, and
st'll keep up the cultivation. When the
corn II on, pillow it in the fall and sow
20 oats the following year. Such treat
ment will eifcctually kill out the weeds
and save labor afterwards.
Something else, however. is required.
~ the seed used for crops should DO
thoroughly examined and cleaned,
even II hand-pickcd. The manure
should be rottcd, In order TO destroy
the weeds. but this can not be done un-
ger all circumstances. BY handling
me manure once, and sprinkling every
portion with mixture Of one pound |
81 sulphuric acid to five gallons Of |
water, the manure will be rendered |
more soluble. and the seeds DESTROYED.
AZ spread on the soil early in the sea-
son, and worked in with cultivator
near the surface, the seeds remaining |
VIII be induced 10 sprout and the young |
plants destroyed with but little labor.
", The rule for the destruction Of weeds,
therefore. Il -''sprout the seed in the
ground and kill them just as they ap-
pear out Of the soil" by 80 doing they |
gan never make sufficient Roadway to |
multiply, and II prevented from repro
uuclng themselves, they must ncccs-
:sarily disappear II the farmer docs not |
introduce new seed 70 give him addi-
t'onal labor. Once prcvcnt weeds from |
seeding. and the manure will be free |
rom thcm.-Farns, Field and Sfocb-
man.