Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1898-12-29
Notes i5e,,;'v on Weeds 8.
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Notes on Weeds.
co ouriconmon weeds may b divide
into three catesorlesi lsg;
~, III Weeds Of cultivated soil, in
10 Guiding tame grass pastures.
(2) Weeds OF native pastures
These ats, coarse, plants, native in tn
grasa land, but not eaten by stock
y, These plants do not usually .beCom
tfoblesomeunlees the land is over
stocked 'Inthat case the weeds arr
better able to compete with the grasI
and increase more rapidly. Moving
pasture helps to keep down such
weeds, but the best remedy IS to take
of the stock for season or two ano
allow the grass to recruperate.
(3) Weeds Of waste places, door
yerds, fence rows, and similar neglect
ed spots. Weeds which con6ne them
selves to such Localities do little actual
harm other than being unsightly.
But, unfortunately, many weeds OF the
first category find refuge here, and
propagated from year to year For
this reason, 1t 10 best to have no meg
lected spots" upon the farm.
WEEDS OF CULTIVATED SOIL.
II to this category that our most
troublesome weeds belong. About
half Of our bad weeds are native and
include the cocklebuf, sand bur, sun
flower and ragweeds. A few are
native farther west and are introduc.
ed in Kansas, as the bull.nettle, snow
on.the. mountain, and pnckly night
shade. Most Of the remainder are
introduced from Europe, not directly
but at various times in the past, thru
the eastern states.
Many Of our weeds have excellent
facilities for the distribution Of their
seeds. Some are tumble-weeds, which
break of GEAR the ground at maturity
and roll before the wind, scattering
their seeds as they go. The common
tumble-weed, the sand.hill tumble
weed and the Russian thistle are ex-
smples. Some have tumbling fruit
clusters, as tickle grass; some have
tufts of hair on the fruit, as thistle
and prickly.lettuce; some have fruit
or seeds which attach themselves to
animals, as cockleburs, sand burs
beggsrticks, devePs claw. Many seeds
are small and are blown along with |
dust or upon the surface Of the snow. |
Some are eaten by birds or other ami
mails and escape digestion, or are car
ried about In the mud upon their feet.
These various methods serve to scatter
seeds from field to field or from farm
to farm, One Of the most important
agencies for distribution over wide
areas is man. Seeds of weeds are
carried along with those Of grass,
grain and vegetables, Great care
should be taken when importing seeds
to avoid introducing weeds IN this
way. Buy seeds of responsible par
ties who will guarantee it to be pure
or at least free from the seeds of nox-
ious weeds. Railroads are great car
rierJ Of seeds, often ia the bedding in
cattle cars. Ground planted to i'm
ported seed should be watched and
strange weeds ersdicated before they
have had time to spread.
Many Of our annual weeds have the
power to exist as dwarfs Species
which normally grow three or four
feet high may occur as dwarfs not
more than an inch or two in height.
10 this way they escape notice and
elude the vigilance of the farmer, and
yet produce seed for a succeeding
CROP
To illustrate how weeds tend TO
occupy new soil, plat Of bare soil
ten feet square was laid off, and the
seedlings counted and removed at
intervals as they appeared. During
four years 7O,825 seedlings we're re-
moved. OF these, 1872 were purs-
lane and 2S,3O3 were bull-nettle. A
great number of other plants which
apparently had an equal chance
were present in small numbers or
not at all.
Many of our worst weeds have the
power to produce an enormous num-
Der of seeds. Estimates based upon
partial count of the seeds on q single
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