Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1897-08-07

n
foreigners or ma
tiyes. l. e., they |
Rave either been brought in durihg
the agricultural development OF
ne country. or are indigenous
niants capable of adapting them
selves to civilized conditions
pable Of migrating from the mesas anu
valleys to the cultivated nelus anu
here reproducing themselves Among
our weeds of foreign origin are num-
Der of the most injurious Win "nisn
We have to contend. They are usuails
more cosmopolitan in character than
BUR native species, are capable Oh Will
standing greater variations IN climate
and will grow upon nearly all KINDS "
soil. After being once introduced tnes
usually spread with great rapidity anu
IN a few years are more abundant tnan
many OF the native species. As iiius-
srations of such weeds may be men
Toned Johnson grass. bull mailoW anu
ourslane. AS yet we have FAR more
species of native weeds than we nave
of those of foreign origin, but as the
territory becomes older in respect TO
agriculture, many OF the native species
will practically disappear and their
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, sunfiower. cookie bur, horse nettle
and beggarweed, while there are hail
score of others nearly II not quite as
injurious in special localities.
Weeds not only impoverish the soil,
but they shade and occupy the ground
10 the detriment OF other plants. We
are all familiar with the serious effect
sf spring weeds on the growth OF near
Iy all kinds OF crops produced in mar
get gardening. How, if care is not
exercised, they choke the slender
onions, Just from the seed, and cause
he young beets and parsnips to be
some pale and worthless. Weeds arr
hardy plants and in their struggle fol-
existence, unless checked, force TO tbs
wall the more tender plants which !
Is mans province to grow and cult
rate. Many weeds aid in the dissem
nation of fungous diseases. Root-rot
one of the most injurious plant disease
If Arizona, is largely spread by tn
scattering of spores, which correspon
10 seeds in higher plants. Infeste
weeds aid the spores in making thei
way from tree to tree or from one Gu
.ivated plant to another. Some weed
are injurious to stock. Our commo
squirrel tail grass, abundant in sol
.mpregnated with alkali. frequent
causes serious injury to sheep and oil
Or stock. II the heads Of this grass al
eaten when dry. the hard, sharp avn
not infrequently penetrate the mucol
membrane OF the mouth and cause dai
gerous ulcers. A number OF plan
Indigenous to Arizona, mostly belon
ing to the genus Astragalus. are know
as loco weeds from the peculiar effe
that they have, when eaten, upon nea
ly all kinds of stock. At various tim
much discussion has arisen as to t
poisonous principle found in the
weeds. Many experiments have be
made and extended Investigations ca
RED on, but the results have been co
1ict1g. Decoctions, made from the
have been fed to animals. and m
have chewed the weeds without a
apparent effect; again, stock have be
red on the plants and evidently di
from the result Locoed cattle are I
uncommon in Arizona and 1t ID
universal opinion among cattlem
that these weeds are the cause OF
disease.
Unclean seed has more to do W
The distribution of weeds than all otl
causes combined. These are broul
upon our farms in garden and Fl
seeds from foreign countries. Russ
daxseed is responsible for the int
duction of the Russian thistle VIII
arst appeared upon single farm ;
now covers over forty thousand SOU
miles in the United States. Alta
beet, turnip and other field and gar
seeds imported from Europe are
potent cause for the contamination
our lands with farm weeds. Nor
me farmers Of this country at all |
kicuIar in saving their seeds. fl
containing weeds often being set al
Tor seed crops, insuring the fou
seeds in many cases. And then in
purchase of seeds. the farmer is
careful to buy pure seed only,
plants whatever the dealer offers !
Until these methods are done a
with we must expect to have new
nicious weeds constantly appea
among our crops.
Insects in Oranges. --No one Is
prised to find a worm in an apple
occasionally in other fruits. but 1t