Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1891-07-02
Farmers Pests.

dIHlSIS fCSk9s
Nest of the weeds that are being sent
in by the farmers-indeed those that
seem to be of the worst characterize
long to the mustard family. Four of
these are very noticeable throughout
the valley the common names of which
are penny cress, tansy, mustard, shep-
herds purse and peppergrass.
The penny cress is readily recognized
by its large, flat winged seed pods,
which at this time of the year are as
large as an old-faslIioned three-cent
piece, and it's narrow shaped leaves
clasping the base Of the stems; each of
the pods contains from eight to fifteen
large perfect seeds.
The tansy mustard has gummy,
much divided, ill smelling foliage and
as indicated by it's name has much the
appearance of the ordinary tansy plant
at least while young. 1t has minute
yellow flowers, branches quite profus-
ed, and has seed pods very much like
black mustard bearing numerous small
mustard like seed.
The shepherds purse at first forms
heavy tufts or resets Of arrow shaped,
stemless leaves, much the same as the
penny cress. Later in the spring it
sends up several branching stems which
bear numerous small white flowers, af-
terward crowded at the top with small
fiat seed pods, one-eignth inch in width
of much the same form as the penny
cress.
The peppergrass is very common
plant found by the waysides and in
dooryards, readily takes possession of
poorly cultivated or waste land. 1t
bears at the top Of a much branched
stem, spikes covered by large number
of flat seed pods. somewhat smaller and
more nearly circular in outline than
those of the shepherds purse. The
flowers of this plant are very minute
and of green color, is inconspicious
that only the seed pods are noticeable.
All of these plants are ANIMALS OF BIZ
ANIMALS, many of the seeds terminating
in the fall Of the year so that the young
plants have a fair start in the spring
and thus make an early, strong, weedy
growth.
AL of them as will be noticed, are
prolific seeders. Flowers and seed be-
ing formed all summer after the mid
die of May. This character coupled
with the great vitality of the seeds
make them most capable pests on fall
ow lands. All of them grow to height
Of foot Oh more. and as they branch
very freely and are capable of growing
very close together, they may readily
choke out wheat and even larger plant.
In a trip up the James River Valley
last week, a large and otherwise prom
Using tree claim was noticed in which
the peppergrass was Of such rank and
dense growth that the young trees were
no doubt already injured. If these
mustard plants are allowed to ripen-
even small percentage Of the seed
pods that form-nothing can prevent
an abundant product of weeds in the
following fall and spring. At this date
the earlier seed of all four OF the plants
named are nearing maturity, and the
quicker the plant is destroyed either by
pulling or moving. the better it will be
for the land the following year. Plants
that are seeding this year,if cut at this
time will give no further trouble, pro-
yided the seed is not matured. All
mustard seeds possess great vitality,
and may under similar circumstances
remain in the ground number of year
without terminating. This makes it
the most troublesome to rid the soil of
these pests, and one should not be dis
couraged if he does not succeed in one
year. Provided, however, the plants
are cut before ripening, he will soon
reap the benefits of his labor. There
is no road to the destruction Of these
pests. If the plants are near maturity
at the time of pulling or cutting they
should be destroyed by fire before the
seeds shell from the pods. Itmight be
added that none of these plants are
new to the state, but have taken poss.
ession of the soil chiefly because of in.
sufficient cultivation.-Prof. Stock.
bridge in Fargo Argus.
Eupep0y.
This is what you ought to have, in.
deed you must have it, to fully enjoy
life. Thousands are searching for il
daily, and mourning because they find
it not. Thousands upon Thousands oil