Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1898-04-01
Use of the weeder.

IS In the recent developments along The
q line Of agriculture, there is no branch
of the industry which has received
more careful attention than has been
given to the improvement of agricul-
> tural implements, says Country Cen
tleman. We now have special imple-
ments for special purposes, and Of all
these improved farm tools there are
) none destined to prove of more value ID
their line than the weeder. 1t is a
principle in practical agriculture, as
well as in morals, that weeds, like bad
habits, can best be checked and de-
stroyed just when they are starting
and before they become strongly fixed
For destroying weeds at about the time
they show themselves above the
ground, the weeder is admirably adapt
ed. 1t is not the purpose of the I'M
plement to destroy plants which have
become firmly rooted put to tear them
out at the time of appearance For
this reason the weeder can be used On
grain crops with great benefit. II the
land has been well fitted, the grain
makes its appearance before the weeds,
and becomes firmly rooted before it is
found necessary to treat the weeds. IN
spring grain on soils which are natur-
ally somewhat loose, as loans or san
/ dy loans, the weeder is found to fill
place that can be filled by no other
implement. The teeth work around the
stools of grain, destroying weeds, loos-
ening the surface soil, and making
plant food available. Every time the
soil is stirred plant food is set free.
This past year at the Cornell UniVer-
sity Experiment Station a plat Of oats
that received shallow tillage three
times, gave yield of 81 bushels per
acre, while a plat adjoining, not re-
ceiVing the tillage, gave only 81 BUSH
els per acre. We are coming to be-
lieve more and more in the Lois Weed |
on system or the cultivation of grain
crops.
Frequently after planting corn or
sowing grain, a heavy rain will 80 pack I
the soil that the tender plants have !
not the force to get tn the surface.
The surface crust Must be broken and
many hesitate about using the harrow
because of the severity of its work. The
weeder can be used here to advantage,
the surface crust broken, small weeds
destroyed, and the struggling grain
plants liberated. In raising corn for
the silo it is found advantageous to
plant the corn in rows one
way. 1t is desirable to plant closer
than could be done were the cultivator
to be used in both directions. In grow
ing the corn crop this way it is of the
utmost Importance that weeds in the
row be destroyed while small, and that
the soil around the plants be kept loose.
Some use the smoothing harrow, but
after running the harrow over the corn
the field has such forlorn appearance ;
that many hesitate about doing it
again. This narrowing has been done {
In certain cases with great benefit, but
it frequently thins out too much of the
corn and makes a poor stand. The {
weeder on corn has the good effect ex- \
erted by the harrow without its de-
fects. BY the proper use of the weeder
and cultivator a corn crop may be b
grown without a stroke of hand labor.
The subject of sugar beets is now COM
ng to attract more or less attention in s
he state. The question most con-
,erning the production of beets is how Z
an they be raised with greatest econ c
,my? If hand work and hand weed e
ng is largely required, the expense Of a
will be too great. On soils
dapted to the growing of sugar beets
he weeder works most efficiently.
When the beets are small and before
if the weeder is brought into
equisition a large part of the hand a
york of wedding and thinning may be e
aved. 1t must not be expected that
arge half-grown weeds will be de-
troyed; they will be made to grow
II the faster. The only effectual i'm
lement then is the pillow. But for
estroying weeds when small, myriads IT
f them may be conquered by the jul =,
icious use of the weeder. 1t should -
e stated that the weeder does not
-ork equally we'll on all soils. On
eavy clay or on stony land the work &c
does is not so satisfactory as on
,amy soils. But there is on nearly
very farm enough soil which is of be
andy or loamy nature to make the VIZ
possession Of a weeder important. ~,
ba
Agricultural Outlook Good. - The an
armers' Review considers the outlook Ca
II crops the coming season as good. sN
here was generally enough moisture
te in the fall to put the ground in
ndition for the winter and early
ring With exception of the fall sown ~
heat all prospects appear now of the
st. The fruit trees did not overbear
st year. but had enough moisture in hit
e early part of the summer to make
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