The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-07-12

spite their efforts. The plan adopted
must not only be radical but practi.
cal, something which may be easy and
simply applied and should not lead
the farmer very far aside from the
usual routine Of farm work; IL 1t seeks
to do more, 1t is not apt to be q sue.
cess.
A little of my own experience In
the line of killing weeds may not be
amiss. Last season I saw plainly
that weeds were going to get the up
per hand; I thought I could not az
ford to summer-fallow, SO concluded
to grow considerable late crp this
year, as an experiment. Last fall
after blowing the ground for wheat, I
plowed fifty acres as shallow as could
be turned; this spring it was harrow
ed as soon us ground would permit,
the weeds came beautifully; when I
got through sowing wheat I found
that was compelled to SOW ten acres
of the fifty to oats, SO I narrowed out
every weed in sight, principally French
weed and black mustard, drilled In
the oats, finished last of April, but
to-day, oh. horrors! had sowed near
ly q month too soon, and did not
know of a remedy should feel like
saying, well, this French weed and
black mustard is bound to monopolize
everything anyhow, SO let them have
1t. The balance of the fifty acres I
left until I was sure the seeds had
about all terminated and come to the
surface; thirty acres of which culti-
waited and sowed to barley. I have
been able to clear it Of the noxious
by hand In u very short time, being
mostly plants missed 10 cultivating.
The balance plowed, which l think
the better plan. find that / have
followed very closely the remedies
given by "Rusticus" and can heartily
recommend them.
The plan proposed by Mr.. Douglas
I am not SO sure Of, having tried it in
a small way. Cultivating between
drills would no doubt clean the land,
but think the seasons are too short
to follow the practice. My experience
is that cultivating tends to rank
growth. Stools In all stages, none
ripening until the last has matured,
the root having to die first.
In England the system Of cultiva-
ting wheat may do very well, climatic
conditions rendering the seasons
much longer, but here growth must
be forced and any method which
would delay the maturing Of the crop
might be looked upon as doubtful.
In connection I would say, Mr.. Edit
tor that your town, mean Pcmbina,
has long been looked upon as y radia-
ting centre, distributing the seeds OF
French weed along the highways In
all directions. remember some
years ago, when the weed was just be.
ginning to insinuate itself In this 10
callty, AN individual from our side 60.
ing to your mayor, sternly demand.
ing to know what he was going to do
about this French weed business and
threatening prosecution, as 1t was 60.
ing to ruin the country. The mayor
saw Of conrsc that it was o piece Of
lingo on the part Of individual, calm.
ly maintained his temper, acknow'
lledged the justness of the complaint
and sent him to another dignitary
who said that the order had been is.
sued, whereby all noxious weedi
should be destroyed forthwith, but
that he was waiting; and I think pro.
badly he is waiting yet, as the French
weed about town will fully attest.
Il "FARMER."