The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-07-16

eSoAe VI ,oluerS nearly II not quite aS
Injurious in special localities.
~ = - e!ISg.Tss ~. s..
Weeds mot only impoverish the soil.
but they shade and occupy the ground
to the detriment Of other plants. We
are all familiar with the serious effect
OF spring weeds on the growth of near
~ all kinds Of crops produced in mar
ket gardening. How, IL 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 culti-
vate. Many weeds aid in the dissem-
tnation 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 tres 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. II 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
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 tie results have been con-
dieting. Decoctions, made from them,
have been fed to animals. and men
have 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 IL the
universal opinion among cattlemen
that these weeds are the cause Of the
disease.
i 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 Geld
seeds from foreign countries. Russian
daxsaed is responsible for the intro
duction Of the Russian thistle which
drst appeared upon.a 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
our lands with farm weeds. Nor are
the farmers Of this country at all par
ticular In saving their seeds, fields
containing weeds often being set apart
Tor seed crops. insuring the foulest
seeds In many cases. And then in the
purchase Of seeds. the farmer Is not
careful to buy pure seed only, but
plants whatever the dealer Offers him.
Until these methods are done away
with ne must expect to have new per-
nicious weeds constantly appearing
amongSo our crops.
Mnseets In Oranges. Mo one q suY-
lprised to find . worm In an apple and
q occ7 Iionally mother fraits. but u Il q
surptise to learn that the orange Il get
tingsto be inherited as well as thsSrest..
The Florida Farmer calls attention to
the fact that worms have been found
IN orIlgat grown In New Mexico. Nee