The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1909-08-06
AS TO WEEDS
MR. Z o. Painter Makes Some Wis.
Suggestions

particular menace to
'D IN a growing weed. but cut
eH oo"n and let them decay. as is
nov being done, and is done every
year in ocala. and there is grave nor
II 10 the public health.
IN the columns of the Jacksonville
metropolis, Mr.. E. o. Painter makes
me following timely suggestions.
II Jacksonville had no worse mon.
ace to health than the weeds that
arc now growing on the vacant lots.
IOaus and by-paths, she would he the
Hedi1hlest city in the world. don't
Oeiie'e you can find a physician. or
anyone who knows anything about
'ns eject of growing vegetation that
VIII claim that growing weeds are un-
healthy. l am sure l would a GOOD
ueal rather have a lot next to me
covered With rank growth of weeds
Nhan 10 have the hot sun beaming
down On the bare sand to be reflected
pack' which heat seems to be intensi-
ned In its reflection. Let one of YOUR
reporters start across a stretch of
barren sand and get the full benefit
OF the sun beaming down on it, and
then cross a field that is covered with
weeds, and he will note a great differ
ence, not only in the temperature
but In the very air he breathes. Some
OF our weed kickers overlook the fact,
or are Ignorant of it, that the weeds
are scavengers, that they take I'D the
fetid matter that is accommodating in
the soil from the decomposition of
vegetables or animals. We have a law
on our statute books that protects the
buzzard because he is a scavenger,
and consumes decaying animals that
would be dangerous TO health and GER
tainly very disagreeable to the nos
trils. But why not protect the weeds
that are doing practically the same
thing?
In some cities there is an appropri-
alton made for the poor people to
plant the vacant lots with crops. This
is done not only to help the poor, but
IL helps the appearance of the lot and
adds 10 the healthfulness of the neigh
bOrhood. / would as soon see a lot
covered with dog fennel as corn, if it
were not for the fact that corn gives
back something in return for the la
Dor. The dog fennel is a much better
scavenger than the corn, and it will
thrive where the corn will starve to
death. 1t is the razor back" of the
woods, because il can get nourish-
ment where other plants would soon
die.
The fertilizer man has long known
the value of decaying animal or vege-
table matter, and hundreds of thous-
ands of dollars are spent every year
in gathering this waste material and
preserving it so it can be used for en-
riching the soil far distant from
where il is accumulated. Now, if this
material was not gathered and pre-
served, but allowed to decay, how Of
fensive it would be. Fertilizer is the
beginning and end of every living
thing. II is the preserver Of health
and a source of pleasure and profit
when properly preserved and used,
but when not properly taken care OF
il becoems a menace to health and
unpleasant for everyone in the neigh
borhood.
The weeds that grow on the vacant
lots are continually taking up the fer
tilizer that accumulates in the soil
and robs il of its Objectionable quail
ties and produces new live tissues. 1t
is not the living plants that are in
furious TO the health, but the Gead
and decaying ones. Weeds that are
cut down and allowed to remain on
the surface to decay do not add one
hit To the health of our city.
II your weed kickers would spend
their time and energy looking atter
the ruts and sinks in some OF our
hack streets and allies that hold wa
ter for days after rain, and which
becomes stagnant and breeds foul
smells and mosquitoes, and remedy
it. they would be doing some good tor
the health and good looks of our city
II -. authorities would look out
for the breeding places Of the com
mon house or typhoid fly (musca 90
mestica) they would do a whole LOT
towards improving the health OF our
CITY and Kidding it of one of Its Sc
rious annoyances. If all the manure
heaps around the stables ana Tue
piles of accumulated trash where mes
breed we're sprinkled with water IL