The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1886-08-20
DISCRIMINATING WEEDS.
Why Many Farmers Fail to Keep Thel
Places Free from Noxious Growths.

MOST farmers devote a considerable
amount of time each year to DESTROY
ing the weeds that grow on their
places, an 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 view of destroying all the seeds
OF weeds that have matured. Not
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
lority 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
a 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 do
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 do
not care to eat them. The plants them
selves have great power of endurance
They will thrive during q 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 q season seems to be favorable one
for the weed crop. There has been no
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
they are pulled up when the first
blossoms appear on them. The sap
contained in the stalks and leaves will
be appropriated to the seeds that
were IN process OF formation when the
plants were pulled from the ground or
were cut off. Many weeds cut by the
scythe OF hoe G ose to the ground will
throw up sprouts, as trees and bush
es do, which will mature seed in the
course of the season. Several kinds of
weeds will take root after they have
been pulled out of the ground. A
rrraat n a +1ro eff h 6 cho1u,o FL o+ +ba on
imals that are of the least value to the
world or which are positively injurious
have the strongest hold on life. They
will continue to live under circum-
stances that would kill creatures that
are of value to mankind. The same is
true in relation to the plants known as
weeds.
A great mistake is made by many
who desire to keep their farms in good
condition in respect to weeds in allow
ing them to grow too long. No atten-
ton is given to eradicating weeds DUR
ing the season of cutting grain and
grass. During this season they
make vigorous growth, and
often perfect and drop their
seed. Another mistake is that of al
loving portions OF plOWed land to re-,
main without being seeded to valuable
crops There is often strip of land
at the end of corn and potato fields
that was plowed SO poorly that no at
tempt was made to plant it. The I'M
even surface catches the seeds that
are blown over the field, and the
ground becomes covered with weeds,
many of which attain large size.
Some farmers who destroy the weeds
in their own fields and pastures allow |
them to grow on the side of the road |
in front Of their places. They DO not |
appear to consider the fact that weeds
have no respect for arbitrary lines or
wire fences. They must know, if they
give thought to the matter, that weeds |
that grow on the side of road will |
furnish seed that will find its way to
the land they cultivate. Chicago |
Times.