The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-01-26
N0yIOUS WEEDS
PAPER READ BEFORE STARK
COUNTY HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETY.
Clayton hoII, Of New Berlin Gave a
Summary Of the Law-Interest !,
ing Discussions

The first meeting Of the Stark Coun-
ty Horticultural Society for the year
1906, was held on January, II, at the
residence Of J. w. Pontius, 1920 West
Tuscarawas street, Canton.
The day was pleasant, but the bad
condition of the roads no doubt pre-
vented the attendance Of those distant
from car lines, yet about 10 members
and friends who had not forgotten the
cordial welcomes and generous hospi-
tality of Mr.. and Mrs. Pontius in Tor
mer years, were present and enjoyed
their hospitality, the pleasant social
hour. the most excellent dinner and
the afternoon program.
Another pI0..table year In the an
| nails OF the society has passed, and in
the year 1906 II starts out with favor
able tokens Of success. and renewed
effort to make itself an educational
factor of the community.
| In the aDsence of President F. A.
Hanna, ex-President Rockhill called
the meeting to order at 1880, and in
troduced q. l.. Leeper, the newly elect
ed vice-president
| Mr.. Lesper took the chair and after
few remarks proceeded with regular
order of business. Minutes of Decem-
ber meeting were read and approved.
Mr.. Bitter informed the society that
under present circumstances Il would
| confer a great favor upon him by re-
| lieving him from the entertaining of
the society at the December meeting.
The place of holding the December
meeting will be changed
The executive committee reported
that 1t Is ready to receive bids for
places of meeting for 1907.
There being no new business, the
next in order was the reading of pa
pers. Clayton Holl, who had been ap-
pointed essayist, responded with the
following paper on The State Law
Relating to the Destruction of Noxious
Weeds"
- statutes of the State of Ohio
provide for the destruction of Canada
on Russian thistles. Wild lettuce and
wild mustard are considered noxious
weeds. growing on lands in townships.
The trustees of any township of this
state, upon information in writing that
the above named noxious weeds on
any lands in their township are about
to spread and mature seed between
the first day of June and fifteenth day
OF October, shall cause notice to be
served to owners or lessees that such
noxioys weeds shall be cut and de-
stroyed within five days; in default of
which the trustees shall enter and de-
stroy the same or hire some. one TO do
the work. for which they are allowed
to pay at the rate of Is cents per hour.
Trustees shall return amount of ex-
penses - incurred against property
to the county commissioner in writing,
and this becomes o lien against the
property and will be placed on the tax
duplicate and collected as other taxes.
with the exception of the four
largest cities in the state similar law
applies to all cities and incorporated
villages in Ohio, only in somewhat
different manner in notifying property
owners to rid their vacant lots Of nox-
ious weeds, many times the breeding
beds for a whole city or township.
"So YOU see that II the law regarding
the destruction of these noxious weeds
were at all enforced there would be no
trouble to keep them in check and
their final eradication. Your next
neighbor may be the one to suffer the
penalty. ana because you assert your
legal right and neighborly right also,
you make him your enemy. This is
why we have these noxious weed sesds
mature and seed the country. Upon
the other hand you say 1t is only neg
ligence of your neighbor. Would It
net be wise to enforce the law occa-
sionally as correction for negligence
and information to those who hardly
know there is law regarding noxious
weeds? II would create discussion
in the neighborhood and education
would result. Therefore let the hor-
ticulturalist see that his premises are
cleared of weeds, and especially all
noXious weeds, at the proper time,
showing by your example to the com,
munity that you are In fact law
abiding citizen; and by your progress
others will take exeample and do like
wise on their own premises, as many
learn in no other way.
"This is not the tim eto talk about
weeds; there are none growing now.
Certainly we have them all around us
all the time. maturing seed and spread
ing 1t all about us in one form or an
other. Therefore as we are entering
upon the work of another year let the
horticulturalist awaken TO his interests
and be ready to eradicate and destroy
all noxious weeds in whatever form
they exist. You ask yourself the
question have we any in the Stark
County Horticultural Society? AS a
member of the committee on no&ious
weeds would say they are dormant at
this time of-the year. But as we are
entering the new year, and soon
springtime will be here and seeds
spring to life there Is no telling what
tho nrOduaf will ha hOnino thnnoh