Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-09-27
Weeds in Agriculture.

Every tiller of the soil isinterested in
this subject, and the Experiment Station
of Tennessee has very appropriately, as
We believe, devoted its third bulletin to
this subject. Farmers are interested in
the subject, not only becaute the growth
of weeds takes from the supply of food
intended for cultivated croos, but it in
creases the cost of growing the crops to
the extent Of the extra lator required
for the destruction of tie weeds. A
large proportion all the WEEDS that in
alone, and it is sometimes ! matter of
wonder why it is that the seeds of some
weeds appear to be in the Esoil at all
times and only wait until the soil is
brought under cultivation tt receive the
impulse that pushes them the point
of termination.
Some varieties having ONE gained a
foothold tenaciously holden to exist
ence, and can be exterminat,d only by a
vigorous use of hoe and cultivator.
One trouble lies in the fact that even
the thrifty farmer is almGt wholly at
the mercy of a thriftless neghbor for
while he by diligence prevents weed
seeding, his negligent nsighbor is
virtually encouraging that condition
which most largely disseninates the
weeds. Weed destruction Under the
most favorable circumstances is a
struggle, for the reason that there are
ways and means of spreading that the
most careful farmer cannot ctntrol nor
prevent. Birds and herbiv rous ami
mails pass them undigested Though their
stomachs; they attach themselves in
some species to the wool or 1air OF ami
mails or clothing of men. Wind and
Jc ,;1yA,
active agencies in the dist4 button of
the seeds, and the chief hbpe lies in
the prevention of seeding; therein lies
safety. TelegrGph.
Fertilizing Lawns.
The Neac England Farmer protests
against the custom Of using stable
their front yards and lawns. 1t says:
stable manures spread upon farm
lands, or village gardens, and worked
into the soil with cultivator and spade
are in the best place they can be put.
Many city and village people imagine
that farmers who save, cart, and apply
barnyard manures to the land are thereby
to be pitied; these same overnice people
sometimes turn up their nose at the
sight of manure cart, and yet they will
annually endure the presence of large
quantities of stable manure on their
lawns, spread clear up to their walks,
and the windows of their dining room,
parlor, and bedroom. If the surface
was covered by snow from Thanksgiv-
ing to the last of March it would not be
SO bad, but in many portions of New
England the ground is likely to be bare
much of the time in winter.
If lawn is attractive in summer be-
cause of its clean turf, it is also at
tractive in winter when clean. If one
will use manure for topdressing lawn,
the manure should be thoroughly rotted
and fine enough to sift down into the
grass nearly out of sight. But the labor
of preparation would make such COM
post more costly than good commercial
fertilizer. Dealers now sell fertilizers
for topdressing that are odorless, and
just the things for lawns; they need not
be applied till the grass begins to grow
in spring. Next spring the MANFRED
lawns will have to be raked or swept
over at considerable expense, and the
collection carried off, much of it being
too coarse to be worked down into the
sod. Fertilizers are best for the lawr
every time.