The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-11-03

n weed is a plant worthless to The
agriculturist. but often of great value,
interest and use in the work of educa-
tion.
The fan weeds constitute the best
part Of the free laboratory for nature
study
venture to recommend to all fellow
teachers that they take the children
of each grade into some nearby field
and teach them the name, something
of the life history and structure, and
some approved method of keeping I'M
der control, the weeds that are most
harmful in the locality.
Probable Results of Weed Study.
Weed study. if engaged in by the
schools would no doubt have the fol-
lowing results: Parents, especially
farmers and other practical men. would
aid teachers and pupils with infOrma-
tion and suggestions; pupils would be-
come more alive TO their fathers
business" town councils and other
public officials might be stirred up to
take some action against disastrous
weed pests.
Weeds lessen crops. increase farm
labor, damage machinery. injure live
stock, dry out the soil. and occasion
large financial losses, directly to farm
ers and indirectly to all other people.
1t is perfectly legitimate and wholly
fruitless to berate the manipulatOrs of
stock exchange prices, or those Who
control trust or corporation assets, or
those who maladminister the city
finances, or the stock jobbers who cor
ner the markets. But it would be an
immediate boon to the country TO pros
ecute and Danish the forty odd thieves
that thrive at our expense in every
Gal1 rhaffG
these robbers aggregate yearly loss
of untold millions. The larger part of
this loss is entirely unnecessary, and
the public schools may be able, under
intelligent guidance, to save to the
people a portion of this annual waste.
Neither the necessary materials nor
ths inspirational incentives to such
Nirk on the part of the schools are
.as king; and if only the teachers and
rrnstees can be converted to ii, here
IS one of the most fruitful fields for a
Kind of observational study and prac-
Ti,4al work that will really put into
ec-ual operation some of the best ad-
vire that sound pedagogy has ever
gwen.
Weeds of the West.
Every child may learn TO recognize
at sight and should be trained to de-
srroy our seven worst weeds. These are
the Russian thistle, the prickly lettuce,
the cocklebur the wild morning glory.
the wild oat, the June grass" and the
squirrel tail grass.
In the following list of harmful plants
frequent in this state, the common
name is first given, then the technical
name, then the color size and arrange
rnent of the flowers, then the best
known method for eradicating the pest,
and finally. the grade to which it is
most suitable for observation. Other
information will be found in bulletin
2s. weeds and How to XIII Them"
Farmers bulletins are sent free to any
address upon application to the secre-
tary of agriculture, Washington, d. c.
Every teacher should write for those
mentioned in these articles.
Barnyard grass; Panicum crus-Salli;
green, M-inch, panicle; prevention of
seeding; 8th grade.
Black mustard; Brassica nigra; yell
low, A-inch, panicle; prevention of
seeding. hoed crops: 4th grade
Bull thistle, common thistle; Carduus
lanceolatus; purple, 1-ineh head; pre-
vention of seeding, cutting in fall; 9TH
grade.
Burdock, great dock: Arctium lappa;
purple. I5-inch head prevention of
seeding, grubbing in summer; 9TH
grade.
Bur grass, hedgehog grass; Cenchrus
tribuloides: green bur; cultivation.
burning; Sth grade