Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1898-03-25

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, nut to tear them
out at the time Of appeara nee. For
this reason the weeder can be used on
grain crops with great benefit. II the
land has been we'll 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
a 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 plat OF oats
that received shallow tiliage three
times, gave a yield Of 81 bushels per
acre, while a plat adjoining, not re-
ceiving the tillage, gave on 81 bush
els per acre. We are co. ng to be-
lieve more and more in the .,ois-Weed-
on system or the cultivaticu Of grain
crops.
Frequently after plantlrs corn or
sowing grain, heavy rain will 80 pack
the soil that the tender plants have
not tho force to get tn he 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 Tor
the silo it is found advantageous to
plant the corn In rows one
way. It 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 1t 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 a forlorn appearance
that many hesitate about doing II
again. This narrowing has been done
in certain cases with great benefit, but
it frequently thins out too much OF the
corn and makes poor stand. Inc
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 corn crop may Dc
grown without stroke Of hand labor.
The subject of sugar beets is now COM
ing to attract more or less attention IN
the state. The question most con-
corning the production Of beets is how
can they be raised with greatest econ
omy? II hand work and hand weed
ing is largely required, the expense OF
production will be too great. On soils
adapted to the growing OF sugar beets
the weeder works most efficiently.
When the beets are small and before
thinning, If the weeder Is brought into
requisition a large part Of the hand
work of wedding and thinning may be
saved. 1t must not be expected that
large half-grown weeds will be de-
stroyed; they will be made to grow
all the faster. The only effectual i'm
plement then Is the pillow. But for
destroying weeds when small, myriads
Of them may be conquered by the jul
dicious use of the weeder 1t should
be stated that the weeder does not
work equally we'll on all soils. On
heavy clay or on stony land the work
II does is not so satisfactory as on
loamy soils. But there is on nearly
every farm enough soil which is Of a
sandy or loamy nature to- make the
possession of a weeder important.