The Globe-republican., 1897-07-08

& a&S1 Weeds are either
foreigners or ma
tives, i. e., they
nave either been brought in during
the agricultural development OF
the country, Or are indigenous
plants capable of adapting them
selves to civilized conditions, ca
pable Of migrating from the mesas aud
valleys to the cultivated fields and
there reproducing themselves. Among
our weeds of foreign origin are a num-
Der OF the most injurious with which
we have to contend. They are usually
more cosmopolitan in character than
our native species, are capable OF with
standing greater variations in climate
and will grow upon nearly all kinds of
soil. After being once introduced they
usually spread with great rapidity and
in few years are more abundant than
many of the native species. AS illus
trations of such weeds may be men
toned Johnson grass, bull mallow 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
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
aut, sunfiower, cookie bur, horse nettle
and beggarweed, while there are half
score of others nearly if not quite as
injurious in special localities.
Weeds not only impoverish the soil,
out they shade and occupy the ground
10 the detriment of other plants. We
are all familiar with the serious effect
of spring weeds on the growth of near
ly all kinds of crops produced in mar
aet 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-
come pale and worthless. Weeds are
hardy plants and in their struggle for
unless checked, force to the
wall the more tender plants which it
S mans province to grow and cult
7ate Many weeds aid in the dissem-
nation of fungous diseases. Root-rot,
one of the most injurious plant diseases
II Arizona, is largely spread by the
scattering of spores, which correspond
% seeds in higher plants. Infested
weeds aid the spores in making their
way from tree to tree or from one Gull
ivated plant to another. Some weeds
ire injurious to stock. Our common
squirrel tail grass, abundant in soils
with alkali, frequently
,auses serious injury to sheep and 9TH
II stock. If the heads of this grass are
eaten when dry, the hard, sharp awns
lot infrequently penetrate the mucous
membrane of the mouth and cause dan
,erous ulcers. A number of plants
Indigenous to Arizona, mostly belong
ng to the genus Astragalus, are known
IS loco weeds from the peculiar effect
hat they have, when eaten, upon near
y all kinds of stock. At various times
much discussion has arisen as to the
poisonous principle found in these
reeds. Many experiments have been
nade and extended investigations car
letting. Decoctions, made from them,
ave been fed to animals, and men
ave chewed the weeds without any
pparent effect; again, stock have been
ed on the plants and evidently died
rom the result. Locoed cattle are not
ncommon in Arizona and it is the |
Universal opinion among cattlemen
hat these weeds are the cause of the |
isease.
Unclean seed has more to do with |
he distribution of weeds than all other |
auses combined. These are brought |
pom our farms in garden and field |
eeds from foreign countries. Russian
axseed is responsible for the intro
uctiOn of the Russian thistle which |
rst appeared upon a single farm and
ow covers over forty thousand square
lAASo IA lAC OAllC0 0SotCS. <AlAolA0, |
eet, turnip and other field and garden
.eds imported from Europe are the
otent cause for the contamination of
II lands with farm weeds. Nor are
le farmers of this country at all par
cular in saving their seeds, fields
weeds often being set apart
II seed crops. insuring the foulest
eds in many cases. And then in the
lrchase of seeds. the farmer is not
lreful to buy pure seed only, but
ants whatever the dealer offers him.
ntil these methods are done away
it'll We must expect to have new per-
cious weeds constantly appearing
nong our crops.
Insects in Oranges.-No one Is SUI
Used to find q worm in an apple and