The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1909-09-09
The Independent Farmer
DEPARTMENT DEVOTED BEST INTERESTS OF THE
MOST IMPORTANT INDUSTRY OF THE NORTHWEST
Late Summer Control Of Weeds-ln
the Grain -

Late Summer Control Of Weeds-1n
the Grain
A.C. News Service, H. J. Hughes,
Reporter.
It would be practically impossible,
says H. J. Hughes of the Agricultural
College, in a recent issue OF the
jamestown Capital, to estimate the
cost to the farmer OF the growing
xhreshing, and distributing OF foul
weed seed. ..
An instance may be mentioned
where farmer bought what he rthot
to be bromo grass seed. With 1t he
sowed 80 acres of his arm, which,
came up over one-half quack grass.
In this case there was clearly a me-
chanical mixture of the seeds. Tho
fraud was deliberate. He will ind 1t
4 very expensive business to rio MS
farm of the pest introduced in the
seed soWn.
Weeds cost the farmer more from
the time they show their heads until
they are threshed and safely housed
for another sowing than any other ono
thing I know of, in view OF their ab-
solute lack of value to him. They take
fertility out of the soil. That must
be accounted for some day. They
drink up the moisture that should go
to the crop.
That lessons the yield and quality,
and in a dry year may cause failure.
The i'll effects follow up during the
succeeding season. The reserve OF
moisture that should be in the ground
Is lowered, and the crop Of the next
year suffers drought unless there is
an abundance of rain. Weeds shade
the growing plant, and often overshad-
ow it to it's destruction. They increase
the Irvine bill. They mea: added draft
and wear of the machinery. It takes
q little longer to shock than to shock
the same amount of grain With
out them. The threshing goes lit
tie slower, just bit more help Is
needed, and they rip the weigher'
pound for pound, just as quickly as
half bushel of wheat. 1t costs some
thing to haul them to market; tho
railroads get paid for their transport
tation to Minneapolis or Duluth. 1t
pays-no.-to raise weeds.
Weed seed are distributed in the fall
In several ways. One Of these is thru
the very common practice of letting
cattle and other stock run at large,
and their drQppings carry hard-coated
seeds INTACT from one field and farm
TO another. Another common carrier
of weed seed is the threshing outfit,
particularly the racks OF the bundle
teams All racks should be thoroly
cleaned before coming onto farm.
and the machine itself swept on.
Where 1t is known that weed seed like
mustard Is In the straw, the latter
should be burned. The same may 'bs
sid al heavy stubbie ground, altho to
burn stubble Is not considered good
thing for the land, as 1t removes
growth the soil needs in order to keep
it in good filth. Where It IL neces-
sary to use seedy straw for bedding,
the manure should be composted be-
fore hauling to the fields. Again you
lose something of value, but to de-
stroy the weeds is still greater i'm
portance. The feeding of oats with
out cleaning should be discontinued.
They carry in them large amount OF
dust, and about all the weeds the farm
Is heir to hide in them over winter.
Sow only clean grain in the spring.
Rotate your crops. Have the land in
to grass for year or two in every
i've or six. Grow crop of corn or
potatoes. If you summer-fallow keep
the weeds down. Destroy the weeds
along the road and edges of the field.
Feed clean grain. Use clean straw
for bedding, or let the manure thor
oily heat before hauling to the field.
Keep your neighbours weeds of your
land, and keep your weeds of your
neighbours land. .,.r. .-.r..-.--.
frono partb ~ ppr1i, q,