Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1909-07-23
Weeds the Chief Enemy Of Al
Falfas

AohoV Iu1Q14d
caused by weeds than by all 9TH
er enemies combined. Every farl
er who grows alfalfa will find
tie same threatened at some time
or another by insects, parasites
or animal pests, but at all times,
weeds threaten to gain a foot
hold ard if not early subjugated
will eventually make it necessa-
ry o plOw up the field.
Weeds work a detriment to
alfalfa in a number of ways,
the more Important of Which il
is appropriate to discuss at this
nme. For one thing, they alb,
sorb large quantities of moisture
from the soil, which in dry
seasons, needless to- say, is great
ly Objectionable. There is no
doubt but what in fields quite
badly infested with weeds enough
moisture can be lost in the way
to be equivalent to several inch
eS of rainfall. While this amount
IN wet years would not be suffic-
lent to cause a great loss to the
alfalfa, in dryyears it would GER
tainly make a great deal of diff
ference IN the growth of the
plants.
Again, weeds may work a great
deal detriment to alfalfa by be-
coming so rank as to smother and
choke out the less vigorous plants
When weeds have gained such a
headway they prevent air and
sunlight from reaching the soil,
which, to a certain extent, him
derS certain physical and chemi-
cal actions which are essential
to the liberation of plant food
In the soil. A large amount of
available plant food in the soil
is also remvOed by weeds since
from one to several toms of
weed growth may be produced on
an acre In a season.
In conclusion, weeds, especial
lv those which have thick leaves
and stalks, delay curing and fur
thermOre, by them presence in
the cured forage, detract from
its palatability considerably. 1t
is also apparent that clean seed
cannot be harvested from a field
that is foul with weeds. A
high percentage of weed seeds
in alfalfa seed cannot help but
detract greatly from its value, as
it is practically out of tile ques-
ton to remove some weed seeds
from alfalfa by grading and cleal
ing. Weeds gain access to alfal
fa fields Through the use OF
trashy or cheap seed or they are
originally in the seed bed. The
weed seeds that are already i'm
the land will cause enough trOub-
lie without being increased
through the introduction of un-
clean alfalfa seed.
Those who are planning to seec
several acres or more to alfalfa
this fall and are allowing the lant
intended for such use to lie idle
this sumacr should bear in m.Gr
the importance Of keeping up /
running fight w'tl the wees
Disking and clipping after
stand n as been secured in one
way p eradicate weeds, but by fs
tae be.,t rlan Is t. get the SEED
bed in as sterile a condition as
possible before seeding. The SOW
Ing of alfalfa OF a foul field
is the worst kind of folly, there
fore "" say S., ti,, field intend
ed for alfalfa ploweh as soon as
possible, if not all eady plowed
and then stil the surface of the
same frequently cr as often as
any weed sprouts sppear or the
surface where conditions for the
rot stir the soil deep, but rath.
er aim to start and kill only
these weeds wireli lie near the
surface, where concitiOns for thei
termination are favorable. The
give both a firm ard a clean seed
result of such attention will
bed aud allow the alfalfa a very
desirable handicap over the
weeds.
Mrs. R. Vancil is visiting rel