The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-09-22

Farmers Discuss an Important Subiec
to Themselves.-At the last meeting of tn,
Deer Creek Farmers Club thesubject discussed
was Weeds" We append the views of som,
OF the members as reported by the Belai
-Agis;
Mr.. John b. Wysong said that the farmer who
keeps his place free from weeds deserves mucl
credit, for it is both troublesome and expensive
!. " should always sow clean grass seed. Make
It q rule to buy the best on the market If pos
slble cut all weeds before seeding and this should
De done before they get ripe. The most trouble
some varieties are the horse nettle and moth
mullen. There is no use of grubbing any OF
them up, as that will make the next seasons
growth worse. 1t is hard for one farmer To
ngng these pests alone as the seed is easily
carried on the snow crust by the wind and also
by snow birds.
Mr.. Frank H. Jacobs said he thought Mr.. Wy
song had selected this subject because his place
was SO free of weeds. 1t is an expensive part OF
farming to get rid of them. June and August
Is tne best time to get rid of them. He expert
e ea trouble with the button weed. 1t grows
~ tne richest ground. Where his wheat fell it
Is most abundant at present
Mr.. Il. Harris Archer said that it took good
iano to- raise weeds. The most troublesome
were plantain, dock and horse nettle. The
rlcner the land the bigger the weeds The best
way to get rid of them is to cut them off. He
recalled the fact that forty years ago when
morse nettle first made its appearance it was
SAID that the farming land would be ruined, but
Zine has proved the contrary. Weeds should be
cut once year. OF course it would be better
Ine time. They should be cut about the first of
july, when in blossom. He advised the hus-
Dandman TO keep plenty. of stock to eat the
weeds up and cited as an instance how steer
out on pasture will eat up everything that comes
IN his way. Cows and horses, however, will not
do this.
Mr. Harry Silver thought that the most effec-
i've way to get rid of weeds is to follow the old
Gothic proverb which is in the front of the
Deer Creek Farmers Club minutes. The sap
ought never be allowed to go back in the ground.
Iney should be cut twice year. They always
follow on wheat stubble. 1t is good idea TO
set the moving machine high and NOW the
ground over about month after the wheat is
cut farmer who buys any but the best seed
is very short sighted, as it is poor economy. He
considered eastern seed the best.
Mr.. Leebelieved the moving machine was the
worst enemy to weeds. He related a little in
cldent about having read in some agricultural
journal that certain day if the farmers
would cut purple thistle it would not reappear.
He did not mention the matter to anyone but
had all of his moved at the time appointed and
strange to say none of it has reappeared. Of
course, he could give no reason for this phe-
nomenon. Healways mows stubble and pasture
fields. 1t pays to keep up the fight persistently
for II they are neglected things will rapidly be-
come worse.
Mr.. Fred. Lochary said he had been fighting
wild mustard for some time by pulling it up. In
the field where he did this they grew more
rapidly than ever, and the one he let alone the
pest died out gradually. If hay fields are weedy
cut early and the cattle will eat the hay.
A bulletin of the Massachusetts station said
that there was as much nutriment in ox-eyed
daisies as in timothy hay.
Mr.. John Moores thought that Mr. Archer had
about struck it right when he said that poor
land would not raise weeds. AS the land inn
proves weeds become more plentiful. Much of
the cleanness of land is due to the moving ma
chine. Hay should be cut when the weeds come
into bloom. He recommended moving stubble
to get rid of them. A stalk of blue thistle
should never be allowed to go to seed: He had
never allowed it, but still had the pest, as well
as mullen. Mullen seed is like tobacco, it will
lay dormant for fouryea and then grow. Wind
carries the seed and he agreed with Mr.. Wysong
that it was poor encouragement for one farmer
in the neighbOrhood to attempt to battle with
these pests alone. Canada thistle is the worst
enemy of the farmer We buy it in our seed
and it is getting thicker every year and it seems
almost impossible to kill. 1t should be cut
while in bloom. The moving machine should
be kept going constantly and we should keep
Mr. w. Beatty Harlan thought that the eradi-
cation of weeds was serious matter and that
we need bestir ourselves. The only way to keep
them down was the constant and persistent use
of the moving machine and keeping stock. 1t
does not pay to destroy them by hand, as it is
too costly. He thought shade trees were har-
borers of the pest and he had taken them down
practicable.
Mr. Harry Silver thought that horse-nettle
was one of the worst weeds to get rid of. He
had been fighting it, but not successfully. He
recommended the use of the mower In
proof of its efficiency he cited the lawn which
was constantly kept trimmed until finally there
was nothing but the beautiful green sward of
grass. In cultivating fields, thorough and per-
sistent work was essential. 1t was also neces-
sary to have good seed. Weeds should be cut
when they can be utilized for some good advan-
tage, either as feed or bedding.
Mr.. Oliver Smith thought that many of the
despised weeds could be utilized to some good
advantage. There was fortune awaiting any
man who might be able to extract some kind of
dye stuff from the pest which was now only
to the farmer.
Mr.. Thomas H. Robinson had been raising
weeds all his life. He considered the mower
the most effective way of fighting them. He
has had some experience with piece of ground
which was originally nothing but weeds, but
persistent moving had now given him an ex-
cellent sod. He always moved wheat stubble.
Mr.. IL. B. Bruins said that his experience with
weeds had been extensive as he thought he had
more than anybody else. The moving machine
should be used whenever possible. He does not
= raR he has reduced ffa d3'XEn seEsSfF
IvEs&is on his place about two-thirtis