Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1897-07-13

NlEH mentS are made re-
INV specting weeds
q e&r Weeds are either
foreigners or ma
ives, /. e., they
have 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 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 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
.rations 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
-icn
furious of our native weeds are nut
grass, spiny aster, western dock, pig
nut, sunflower, 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.
but 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
ket 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
existence, unless checked. force to the
wall the more tender plants which it
S mans province to grow and culti-
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
10 seeds in higher plants. Infested
weeds aid the spores in making their
way from tree to tree or from one cul-
;ivated plant to another. Some weeds
are injurious to stock. Our common
squirrel tail grass, abundant in soils
mpregnated with alkali, frequently
causes serious injury to sheep and 9TH
sr 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
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
~ all kinds of stock. At various times
poisonous principle found in these
weeds. Many experiments have been
made and extended investigations car
,ied on. but the results have been con-
letting. Decoctions, made from them,
nave 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
rom the result. Loeoed cattle are not
Uncommon in Arizona and it is the
universal opinion among cattlemen
hat these weeds are the cause OF the
disease.
The distribution of weeds than all other
causes combined. These are brought
upon our farms in garden and field
seeds from foreign countries. Russian
daxseed is responsible for the intro
iuction of the Russian thistle which
first appeared upon single farm and
now covers over forty thousand square
ullSS III luc Ouitcu otdtcS. 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
sicular in saving their seeds, fields
containing weeds often being set apart
for 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 we must expect to have new per-
nicious weeds constantly appearing
among our crops.
Insects in Oranges.-No one is sur
prlsed to find a worm in an apple and
occasionally in other fruits. but it is q