The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1897-10-07

will <AllCl NELLIE oLlSC HN~S
usually spread with great rapidity n
in a 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
nut, sunflower, cookie bur, horse nettle
and beggarweed, while there are a 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
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-
waite. Many weeds aid in the dissem-
ination of fungous diseases. Root-rot,
n 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 pores 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
impregnated with alkali. frequently
causes serious injury to sheep and 9TH
err stock. If the heads of this grass are
eaten when dry, the hard, sharp awns
not in%frequently 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
| riod m hut the roc,l1tc have hoan onn-
flicting. Decoctions, made from them,
nave 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 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
flaxseed is responsible for the intro
duction of the Russian thistle which
first appeared upon a single farm ant
now covers over forty thousand square
miles in the United States. Alfalfa
beet, turnip and other field and garden
seeds imported from Europe are thu
potent cause for the contamination O
our lands with farm weeds. Nor arr
the farmers of this country at all par
ticular in saving their seeds, field
onpfoiptro yupndc nfton hoinu cot anar
for seed crops, insuring the foules
seeds in many cases. n then in tn
purchase Of seeds, the farmer is no
careful to buy pure seed only, blu
plants whatever the dealer offers him
Until these methods are done ava,
with we must expect to have new per
nicious weeds constantly appearin,
among our crops.
Insects in Oranges.-No one is su.
prised to find a worm in an apple an
f occasionally in other fruits, but it is
; surprise to learn that the orange is get
ting to be infested as we'll as the res
The Florida Farmer calls attention t
the fact that worms have been foun
in oranges grown in New Mexico. Met
. hams Monthly says: THE worm |
: the orange is named by the entomol;
gist Trypeta ludens. So far as ha
been discovered it has not been foLn
in any of the oranges grown in til
different parts of the United States, a
though it is said to be getting quit
common in the fruit grown beyond OF
n Mexican border"
Clean Appearances.-It is not enoue
. that butter be clean, it must apes
clean. The butter that you take
your customers with an old rag
piece of linen tied over it may
u clean, but it will not be an easy ma
ter to convince them of it. Better
u buy parchment paper, which costs b
y little, and use that. You will thus
able to keep your trade. People a
particularly eager to get butter tn
know to be clean, and are willing
nav for the cleanliness.
Do not try to produce eggs with
- fAuy1 II Vnf M