Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1900-10-30
KILLING WEEDS.

IL would seem theoretically that one
could eradicate the annual weeds by
hoeing persistently every seas on for q
few years, and by stirring the sofi fire.
quently get all the seeds in IL TO germi-
nate, at the same time taking care TO al
Low ncne 20 ripen seed. Practically
there are difficulties 10 the way, so that
while some claim 20 have In this way
greatly lessened the number OF weeds in
a field, YET there are more than enough
TO keep visible supply on hand each
yexr. There are some seeds so light
th,t they are carried far by the wind /;
Others are eaten by birds and pass
through them unoroken, while yet others
attsch themselves TO passing persons or
animals aud obtsln free transportation
In that way, while Others are given TO
methods of water transportation aud are
washed down hillsides by rain or carried
along BY brooks until they find rest
iug place in some new spot.
Then trouble arises with some kinds
in the power they hsve OF remaining for
wears dormant In the soil until they have
Just the right conditions OF heat and air
and moisture 10 start them into life. IL
has been related that soil from the bot
tom Of mines, thousands OF feet below
the surface, freshly dug and kept where
nothing could reach it from the outside,
has been found TO produce vegetation,
and some plants OF varieties which grew
and disappeared from the eirth before
ever the primeval man left any traces
OF his existence here.
There is much less difficulty 10 ex
terminating the perennial plants which
remain In one spot sending up shoots
each year from the root, and extending
more BY an underground growth OF
roots than by the few seeds they scatter.
Most OF them can be so weakened by
constant cutting of the stalks each sea-
son. perhaps once in two weeks or less
| frequently, according TO their habit OF
growth, that In few years they will die
of exhaustion from trying 10 grow seed
and perpetuate the species.
With some OF them we can call TO our
aid the animsls. The Canada thistle,
when cut, will throw up young shoots
that are we'll liked by sheep, especially
IL they are attracted 10 them by hand
iul Of salt thrown over them. Poultry
closely confined in small yards will pick
every green thing so closely as soon 10
kill them al out root and branch. There
are some kinds of swine which like the
roots so well thst they will keep them
we'll eaten out so that but few will ever
start again. The roots of the blind weed
or wild morning glory, the artichoke
aud some others, are not only eagerly
eaten by swine, but they will fatten on
them and on some Of the varieties OF the
common brakes or ferns, IL not on all OF
them.
IL Is true there are places, like the
lawn, where one does not care 70 pen up
poultry or swine, or even 70 feed sheep
and goats for the sake OF destroying the
weeds. Then frequent cutting OF the
leaves and the digging OF roots must be
depended upon, particularly Tor such
plants as the docks, nettles and plsntain.
An will yield TO persistent effort, and il
some less careful neighbor does not
grow plants TO reseed your ground d
few years will clear up these pests, but
= little neglect may give them new vigor
after they are almost dead.
Much. too, may be done, II not to kill
out weeds, 70 discourage their growth,
by such rapid growing plants on land
made very rich rs to fairly crowd out or
smother down the weed growth 70 dwarf
specimens which may serve to perpetuate
themselves by seed, but which do but
little damage OF themselves. Clover on
rich soils is such crop, and so are some
of our garden vegetables.
setts Ploughman.