The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1897-08-14

tves, i. e., they
have either been ought in during
the agricultural development OF
the country, or are indigenous
plants capable of adapting them
serves to civilized conditions, ca
pable OF migrating from the mesas and
Valleys to the cultivated fields and
'neFS reproducing themselves. Among
our weeds of foreign origin are a num-
Oer Oh the most injurious with which
we nave TO contend. They are usually
moro cosmopolitan in character than
our native species, are capable of with
standing greater variations in climate
ana VIII grow upon nearly all kinds of
SOIL After being once introduced they
usually spread with great rapidly and
IN lew years are more abundant than
many of the native species. AS illus
traClons of such weeds NAV be men
uoned johnson grass, bull malIow and
purslane. AS yet we have far more
species OF native weeds than we have
OF those of foreign origin, but as the
territory becomes older in respect to
agriculture, many of the native species
places be taken by foreign ones, which
are constantly being brought in
through the importation of impure seed
and otherwise. Among the most in
FURIOUS of our native weeds are nut
grass, spiny aster, western dock, pig
nut, sunhower, cookie bur, horse nettle
ana beggarweed, while there are a half
score OF others nearly if not quite as
injurious in special localities.
weeds not only impoYerish the soil.
but they shade and occupy the ground
10 the dotriment of other plants. We
are all familiar with the serious effect
OF spring weeds on the growth of near
Iy all kinds of crops produced in mar
ket gardening. How, if care is not
exercised, they choke the slender |
onions, just from the seed, and cause
the young beets and parsnips to be- |
come pale and worthless. Weeds are |
hardy plants and in their struggle for
existence, unless checked, force to the |
wall the more tender plants which it |
is mans province to grow and Guilt
vate. Many weeds aid in the dissem-
nation of fungous diseases. Root-rot,
one of the most injurious plant diseases
OF Arizona, is largely spread by the
scattering of spores, which correspond
to seeds in higher plants. Infested
weeds aid the spores in making their
way from tree to tree or from one Gull
tivated plant to another. Some weeds
are injurious to stock. Our common
squirrel tail grass, abundant in soils
impregnated with alkali, frequently
causes serious injury to sheep and 9TH
er stock. If the heads of this grass are
eaten when dry, the hard, sharp awns
not infrequently penetrate the mucous
membrane of the mouth and cause dan
gerous ulcers. A number Of plants
indigenous to Arizona, mostly belong
ing to the genus Astragalus, are known
as loco weeds from the peculiar effect
that they have, when eaten, upon near
ly all kinds of stock. At various times
much discussion has arisen as to the
poisonous principle found in these
weeds. Many experiments have been
made and extended investigations car
ried on, but the results have been con-
melting. Decoctions, made from them,
nave been fed to animals, and men
nave chewed the weeds without any
apparent effect; again, stock have been
fed on the plants and evidently died
from the result. Locoed cattle are not
uncommon in Arizona and it is the
universal opinion among cattlemen
that these weeds are the cause of the
disease.
Unclean seed has more to do with
the distribution of weeds than all other
causes combined. These are brought |
upon our farms in garden and field
seeds from foreign countries. Russian
naXseed is responsible for the intro
auction of the Russian thistle which
lrst appeared upon single farm and
now covers over forty thousand square
miles in the United States. Alfalfa,
beet, turnip and other field and garden
seeds imported from Europe are the
potent cause for the contamination of
1ur lands with farm weeds. Nor are
h e.