Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1909-09-10

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combat is their great seed producing
capacity. 1t Is not difficult to kill one
formal plant. but no sooner is that
done than another springs up to take
its place.
Early fall blowing gets rid Of many
OF these weeds by turning them un-
der before the seed is ripe. Some Of
the seed which Is ripe will grow up,
and the plants will be killed by the
first freezes of winter. II the field Is
narrowed early in the spring many Of
the remaining seed can be induced to
start. The more weeds that come up
at this time the better, since they will
be killed In the subsequent prepara-
ton Of the land for planting.
There Is 10 better implement for
killing weeds before corn comes up
than the harrow. Narrowing Is a
cheap operation. since so many acres
can be gone over in day. The more
times cOrnfield can be gone over
with the harrow before the corn comes
up the better. In narrowing to kill
weeds care should be taken not to do
the work when the weather is cloudy
or the ground too wet, or the weeds
will be transplanted rather than killed.
In regard to the value Of narrowing
growing corn opinions differ greatly.
1t Is almost impossible, however, to
harrow corn without destroying some
Of 1t. 1t Is waste OF time to test
the seed and planter with the idea Of
getting a good stand and then harrow
part Of 1t out. Unless the weeds are
very bad the harrow had better be
put away In the machine shed as soon
as the corn begins to appear above
the surface Of the ground.
Thorough cultivation from the time
the corn Is two or three inches high
until 1t is ready to ''lay by" will do
much to keep the weeds in check. The
deep early civilizations will bring up
the seeds that have been lying dor
mant at the bottom Of the furrow
slice. These will germinate and be
killed by the later civilizations. Fox
tail may grow up and go to seed after
1t is often a good plan to SOW rape in
corn at the last cultivation. This will
come up quickly and shade the ground
so completely that 1t will prevent the
growth Of annual weeds almost en-
tirely.
Annual weeds seldom do much dam
age in small grain. II the grain is
drilled in on properly prepared seed
bed 1t will get such a start that most
Of the weeds will be smothered out
and die for lack Of plant food and
light Cne annual that is sometimes
troublesome In grain0elds is mustard.
Since this weed Is easily killed by
cultivation 1t seldom goes to seed
in cornflelds. Consequently when
small grain follows corn there is little
mustard seed in the soil except that
which is sown with the oats.
There Is another annual, or rather
winter annual, that Is much harder to
eradicate than those mentioned SO far.
This Is squirreltail grass. so called be-
cause Of its fuzzy heads. The seeds
are very light and are attached to
long boards, which cause them to be
carried for considerable distances by
the wind.
Squirretail grass Is not troublesome
in cultivated fields. but often in
tests meadows and pastures to such
nm extent es to make them almost
worthless. Moving as soon as the
heads appear Will not kill the plant,
but If kept up throughout the season
will prevent 1t from producing seed.
In bad cases about the only remedy is
to plow up the field and put 1t in to