The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1889-09-21
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Weeds in \ grIculture,

| Weeds in agriculture.
Every tiller Of the soil is interested in
this subject and the Experime 1T Station
of Tennessee has very appropriately, as
We believe, devoted its third bulletin to
| this subject. Farmers are Interested in
the subject, not only because the growth
| of weeds takes from the supply of food
attended for cultivated crops, out it in
creases the cost of growing the crops to
the extent of the extra labor required
! for the destruction of the weeds A
| large proportion all the weeds that in
fest farms are propagated by seeds
| alone, and 1t is sometimes n matter of
wonder why it is that the seeds of some
weeds appear to be in the soil at all
times and only wait until the soil is
brought under cultivation to receive the
impulse that pushes them to the point
! of termination.
Some varieties having once gained
| foothold tenaciously hold on to exist
ence, and can be exterminated only by
! vigorous use of hoe and cultIvator.
| One trouble lies in the fact that even
! the thrifty farmer is almost wholly at
the mercy of thrlftless neighbor, for
while he by diligence prevents weed
! seeding, his negligent neighbor is
virtually encouraging that condition
which most largely disseminates the
weeds. Weed destruction under tho
most favorable circumstances -
struggle, for the reason that there are
ways and means of spreading that the
most CAREFUL farmer cannot control nor
| prevent. Birds and herbivorous ami
mails pass them undigested through their
stomachs; they attach themselves in
some species TO the wool or hair of ami
mails or clothing of men. Wind and
railroads, streams and rivers are all
active agencies in the distribution of
= the seeds, and the chief hope lies in
! the prevention of seeding; therein lies
safety Germdnfown Telegraph.
FertiIizing Lawns.
The NeW England Farmer protests
against the custom of using stable
manure in the winter for fertilizing
their front yards and lawns. 1t says:
| Stable manures spread upon farm
lands, or village gardens, and worked
j 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 oyernice people
sometimes turn up their nose at the
sight of q 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
! Eng land the ground is likely to be bare
much of the time in winter.
| If a 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 a lawn,
the manure should be thoroughly rotted
and fine enough to sift down into the
grass nearly ont 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 6dorless, and
just the things fof 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 lawn
| every time.