Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1897-07-16
culture.

III A: ! :5.'':' ~. &:
NSj-ST'--~ ments are made re-
70 . .a S::s: : y: = Elmer he:
t'yes, i. G., they
have either been ought in during
the agricultural development OF
the country. or are indigenous
plants capable Of adapting them
sslves to civilized conditions, ca
pable of migrating from the mesas and
valleys to the cultivated fields and
there reproducing themselves. Among
our weeds Of foreign origin are num-
Der Of the most injurious with which
we have 10 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
I 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 10
agriculture, many OF the native species
I 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, sunflower, cookie bur- horse nettie
and beggarweed, while there are half
score of others nearly If not quite as
injurious in special localities.
Weeds not 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
ly all kinds OF crops produced in mar
ket gardening. How. if care is not
exercised. they choke the slender
the young beets and parsnips 10 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 1
is mans province 10 grow and culti- 1
yate. 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 cul-
tivated plant to another. Some weeds
are injurious to stock. Our common
squirrel tail grass, abundant in soils
with alkah, 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
to Arizona, mostly belong
ing 10 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 10 the
poisonous principle found in these
weeds. Many experiments have been
made and extended investigations car
ried on, but the results have been con-
aicting. Decoctions, made from them,
have been fed TO animals. and men
have chewed the weeds without any
apparent effect; again, stock have been
led on the plants and evidently died
from the result. Locoed cattle are not
Uncommon in Arizona and it is the
opinion among cattlemen
hat these weeds are the cause OF the
disease.
Unclean seed has more TO do with
he distribution of weeds than all other
.auses combined. These are brought
lpon our farms in garden and field
eeds from foreign countries. Russian
laxseed is responsible for the intro
Iuction of the Russian thistle which
irst appeared upon a single farm and
low covers over forty thousand square
niles in the United States. Alfalfa,
eet, turnip and other field and garden
eeds imported from Europe are the :
otent cause for the contamination Of
ur lands with farm weeds. Nor are
he farmers of this country at all par 2
Icular in saving their seeds, fields p
obtaining weeds often being set apart y
Or seed crops. insuring the foulest n
seds in many cases. And then in the q
urchase of seeds. the farmer is not T.
areful to buy pure seed only. but h