The Lamar register., 1903-07-29

1 z
Of this valley, and 1 have also MOTTO
ed that the farmer is not aware oi
the seriousness of this dissemination
Of weed seeds on his farm.
While the seed of a few Of the
weeds, such as the Russian thistle,
the sunAower, the tumbleweed, ETC.,
are carried into the fields by the
wind, and while others are trans
planted by birds the greatest source
of distribution is water.
Every one knows that the most
Iuxuriant growth of weeds is along
the bitches and lsterals, and where
ever the farmer neglects to cut the
weeds before they go to seed he is
responsible for these spreading on
his farm.
One of the worst weeds in this
valley, which is taking hold in an
alarming manner but which was COM
paratively little distributed four
years ago, is the ''sweet clover" 1t
has taken acres and acres Of good
farm land, especially alfalfa, in the
northern part of the state, and unless
the farmers Of the Arkansas valley
commence Immediately to fight it, it
will become one of the worst pests in
our agricultural sections.
Since the sweet clover is spread
entirely from the seed, it is not diff
cult to conquer, providing it is cut
once, or better, twice season; but
if allowed to 60 to seed it will spread
very quickly, as each plant produces
thousands of seed kernels, every one
of which will produce vigorous
plant IN one season.
The rspidity with which this
sweet cloyer has increased leads me
to believe that in some instances it
has been sown, as it is one of the
best honey producing clovers, and q
favorite plant with the bee. keeper.
The rapid decrease of the alfalfa
acreage might have been an induce
for this procedure.
It was unknown in Nebraska years
ago, but was planted by apisrists;
but after they found that it was
very obnoxious weed, they stopped
planting it on their own ground and
sowed it at night along tbs country
roads, hedges and fields of their
neighbors, and now the Nebraska
farmers are fighting it and gradual
ly reducing its area through repeat
ed cuttings during the season.
I cannot recommend strongly
enough the immediate destruction of
weeds, because burning of dry weeds
NEXT season is no destruction what.
ever.
Not only that the weeds are tax
ing plant food and moisture from the
soil, are occupying the place Of pro-
fitable farm crops on every square
inch of land where they grow, not
only that they cause the farmer
heavy expense through repeated cul.
tivation and hoeing of his crop,
which in many instances could be
omitted if weeds were not present;
but they also are the most favorable
breeding places of number of the
destructive insects and root lice,
which later on invade the crop and
cause heavy damage to the farmer.
Should this not convince every
one that it is much cheaper to hire
labor to cut the weeds at once and
prevent them from spreading on the
farm, than to hire three or four
times as much labor next spring for
the cultivation and hoeing Of the
field, and besides giving a multitude
of crop destroying insects shelter and
breeding places in which to hiber-
nate in order to appear in increased
numbers next season?
Therefore, cut your weeds at once;
plow them under on land that is not
producing crop this season, but do
not waste any longer, for it is the
highest time to attend to this work
without delay.
W. X. WINrERHALTrR.
Good News For Lamar.
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