The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-06-14
FRENcH.WRRD,

i've per cent on October lst.
FRRNcH.WRRD.
Farmers, what are you going to do
about frcnch.weed? You see It grow.
ing, spreading, thicker and thicker
each year. A few years ago and It
was rarity In any part Of the county
west and south, now there Is plenty |
OF 1t everywhere. This season has
been particularly. favorable to its |
growth. We do not need to dilate |
upon this sinking weed or tell Of the |
danger and loss occasioned by It. Too
many of our farmers know all about |
this. What we want to know is, are |
we going to sit still and let the french. |
weed grow?
What we want IL means and meth |
ods Of fighting 1t; VIC believe ninety
out Of every hundred farmers are will
Ing to make the fight, aud all that is
needed is the cooperation OF all, and
the certainty that all will fight. tits
Of no use for one, or dozen to fight
II; 1t needs everybody. II, therefore,
the ninety will start 10, shame Or the
law will compel the other ten to help.
The best method of eradIcating the
weed is still a matter Of experiment.
OF course pulling up by the roots aud
burning is certain cure, but there
arc many localities that are SO over.
run with the weed, that first the NEST
Of the weeds must DO cradicated Ivy
cultivation; this is difficult matter
US the seeds are SO long-lived.
We make q few observations. In
blowing french.weed under we should
think Of these facts. We must wait
until the seeds in the ground have
terminated; we can't kill them by
simply turning over the seed. On the
other hand it is no use to walt until
the seed has formed ON the plant, be-
cause that will simply seed the ground
again. When the seeds In the ground
have grown and be fore the new seeds
have formed Is the weak place In all
vegetation. Then as to killing the
roots, for these must also be killed.
In breaking prairie, we find that only
q short time during the year can we
turn over sod with good results; when
the grass and roots are full Of sop. he.
fore the woody fibres begin to form,
II sod is turned over then the grass
and roots rot, probably by kind Of
fermentation. At other seasons Of
the year the roots just dry out aud re
main tough and hard. We have thu
same results sa CuCUfuY GImUer; III
certain seasons timber will rot whel
cut. almost Immediately, while Al
other times 1t will season and las
perhaps for centuries. From thcs,
examples 1t seems to US that the tim,
to plow french-weed, to kill, is when
1t is In the flower.
The after care Of the land is a Ques
tion. Some summer fallow, plowini
and narrowing every time the weed
come up; others pillow the land deep
] then put on quick and thick grow
Ing crop over 1t, which smothers tn
i growth of the weed that comes u
: afterward. We have but little fait
In summer fallow, but think II tn
latter system was carried out two Q
three seasons supplemented by han
T. work, that there would not be niue
french-weed left, though VIC doubt
= IL is ever completely cradicated.
Y Now we would invite the farmer
9 to let us and Others have the benef
. of any experience they may have ha
. with this pestifcrous weed. II 70
wnat you ola ana now you did It. ]
. is almost as good thing to kno
, what not to do as what must be don,
II you have made u success, let U
= hear from you, every body wants {
y know how to kill french-weed. Nevt
: mind the writing or spelling, We wi
= FIX that, 1t is much easier than pul
. ling french-weed. Don't forget; fai
ure or success, we want to hear abou
= 1t, and so do hundreds of our readers