Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-22
WHAT WEEDS ARE LIKE,
Why They Are Called Such and How Il I
That They Come to Grow.
SSOTHAT Is A WEED?'

Why They Are Called Such and How Il L
That They Come to Grow.
ssWTHAT Is A wEED?"
w ut is plant that man has found no
use for. hhe should find use for it then it would
be weed no longer"
This was the answer given to . STAR reporter
by q wise man in the Agricul tural Depart
ment.
Many weed Of past times has risen to the dig
nifty Of a useful vegetable today. There 10 no
telling thatthe most seemingly good-for-noth-
ing sprout may not some day become valued
addition to the garden. When man frst began
to till the soil he encountered obnoxious growths
which did their best to crowd out what he de-
sired to cultivate. Unfortunately such native
enemies were not the only ones with which his
crops were obliged to ntend. In the process
of exchanging commodities, such 10 grain,
pests from other districts were imported and
took accidental root. This is one Of the penal
ties Of the mutual intercourse of nations, that,
just as there is an interchange Of good things,
SO also bad things are intercommunicsted. III
may be asserted with confidence that majority
Of the worst weeds known to the United States
have been brought hither from abroad. They
came in freight and otherwise and took root
along the Atlantic coast. As civilization moved
westward the weeds followed, reinforced by
those indigenous to the localities reached, while
the latter ran back on the trail and contributed
whatever i'll they could do to the older acres
sPREAD1so OF WEEDS.
The conditions favorable for the spreading of
weeds have increased with the DEVELOPMENT of
the country. Some have been distributed by
the breezes that carry seeds, others have been
conveyed by streams others have been carried
hither and thither in the stomschs Of migrating
birds, and in countless ways besides they have
been scattered broadcast over the land Their
germs come and 60 in all directions like tramps
catching rides on passing trains and in cher
ished bouquets gathered by the wavside and
tenderly cared for by transcontinental tourists
In these and a thousand other ways varieties
mere naming Of which would occupy many
columns of this newspaper. Their history 10
that of the wandering Of innumerable plant
offspring from their birthplaces. Those Of
them which excite attention are the ones that
are so sturdy and prolific As to wage successful
warfare against the plants for which man ands
profitable use.
USEFUL FRIENDS AND BrTTIR IoRA
Many plants are useful friends under some
circumstances and the bitterest Of foes in
others. Alfalfa, so valuable for forage our.
poses, is in some parts of the country . most
annoying pest Japan clover, accidentally in.
troduced into South Carolina with imported
goods, has become one Of the most aggressive
weeds Of Florida In the middle states the
wild carrot and wild parsnip are well nigh ire
pressible. Both, escaping from the garden,
occasion the greatest bother. They travel in
baled hay and take root anywhere. A danger
GUS weed has appeared lately in the west, which
Is readily demonstrated in neglected streets
and grounds Of cities, thus keeping close to the
lines Of railway. by which it travels. Another
vile plant has been spread widely in Michigan
by the itinerant threshing machine. Unhappily.
many weeds, dangerous to the farmers in.
dustry. possess beauties which recommend
them to keepers Of gardens, and thus they are
propagated most dangerously.
Ordinarily. plants Of all sorts depend upon
winds and the appetite Of birds for their distri.
button An exception to this rule is found in
the tumble weeds Of the west which drv nm
into balls and are blown hither and thfther
across the prairies- One species, said TO have
been brought into Dakota by the Russians and
for that reason known as Russian cactus." il
reported to form balls as large as houses. which
roll before the storm for long distances and tins
distribute their kind. Wonderful accounta are
given of the dangers encountered by prsiris
travellers in trying to avoid these rolling yeee.
table masses.