The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-08-26

The earlier in life weed is destroyed,
the easier, and the smaller the damage II
will have done, says the Farmers Review.
This is almost self-evident weed is a
thief in the cultivated ground, intent on
making a vigorous growth and robbing
the rightful plants Of their nourishment,
says Prof. B. d. Halstead, who has made
a study of weeds and their treatment.
This work does not begin until the young
plant establishes its roots In the soil, and
has spread its leaves in the air and sun
shine. If the weed is killed before this
point is reached, a double work is DONE
the theft has been prevented and the weed
is killed. The termination of the seed
has provided the condition for easy de-
struction that would not have obtained
had the plant remained shug1y enveloped
by the seed coats. One of the best meth
DDS of Kidding a soil of weeds is to ar
range for rapid wholesale termination of
the weed seeds, after which the young
plants should be promptly killed.
But all weeds are not ANIMALS; and If
the soil is filled with those that live from
year to year, other methods of EXTERN
ination must be followed. Weeds get their
living in the same way as other plants
they need to have room in the soil for
their roots, and space in the air and sun
light for the stems and leaves. Cut them
off from these sources of food, and the
means of performing the vital functions,
and death sooner ore later must follow.
IT Is evident that repeated removals of
the portion above ground will continually
weaken the plant, and II to this is added
an occasional upturnins of the roots,
the weeds must die. Some of them WIFI
stand a great deal of torture, but 1t is the
only general way.
There is no panacea for weeds, moth
ing that can be put on a field to kill
them, unless 1t be a full and proper APP
.plication of that which, for the lack of
a better and heater name, is called eel
bow-grease." This will not only kill the
weeds, but also improve the cultivated
crops.
1t is beyond reasonable expectation
that all annual weeds will be either killed
in the seed or soon after termination;
some dodge the hoe, while others win
be missed by the rake. The next best
thing is to keep them from seeding. The
perfection of q crcP of seeds Is the end
and aim of the whole existence of weed.
If one, for example, removes the large
cup-like flower cluster of the carrot,
there VIII soon be half dozen to take
its place and hurry matters, In seeming
fear that they may share the same fate
before the seeds are matured. If weed
gets a late start II spends very little time
on stem building. but blossoms almost
from the soil, and puts all It's energies
into the perfection of Its seeds and the
continuation of its species. A ''pusIey'
plant will, If left to itself fer a few days,
ripen a million seeds, and do II without
ostentation.
Much depends upon the destruction of
the last weed. If 9s9 are killed the thous-
andth one left to enjoy the superior advan-
tages which the destruction Of the 9TH
ers has given, 1t may be worse than if all
had lived and struggled with each other
through an imperfect growth. One weil-
known and heevily-seeded weed viii leave
a large legacy for evil IN rich field. It
is the few weeds that are left in the corn
fields that, having had the best opportu-
mites, do the mischief and continue the
pests.
Weed seeds have a remarkable way OF
disseminating themselves. One farmer,
by every means in his power, roots out the
cursed Canada thistle. while an adjoining
field may be largely devoted TO the propa-
cation of this prickiy pest. The thistle
seeds are provided with miniature bal
looms. by means Of which they are carried
by the lightest winds and will find IA
vorable place to grow In the welI-tiIied
field Of the thrifty farmer. Therefore, In
the determination Of these pests there
must be an earnest and concerted action.