Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1910-03-31
GRASS LAND WEEDS
Prevalence Of Nosious Plants Is
Serious Matter TO Farmer.
Land Could Easily BE Made Capable
Of Supporting More Grazing Stock.
or Of Welding Heavier Crops
Of Hay Than al Present.

CBy G. = Mft.rERl
The treatment OF krass land In
this country leaves much to lie de-
sired. II would appear as n many
farmers were satisfied to take any
natural vegetation as good enough for
grazing purposes. Everyone knows
that the feeding power OF different
fields varies considerably. We have
the hillside where as many as thirty
acres or more would be required to
keep a beast alive. and we have the
rich land that can fss.es-s bsiicck
and sheep to the acre. There Is an
Inclination TO submit to this as In
evitable In the nature OF things. Al
though there are very definite llmi-
tatlons to possibilities OF improve
ment OF grass land. II could easily be
made capable Of supporting more
grazing stock. or of yielding heavier
crops Of hay than n does at present
The FIRST condition Of Improvement
u much Of our grass land Is drainage: I:
but this Is rather a matter OF land
Improvement than OF farming proper.
and Il should be treated OF in its prop
er place. Next. the prevalence OF
weeds is serious natter. and IL
well within the power OF the farmer.
Some cf these weeds furnish an indi-
cation OF the requirements of the
land The special weeds OF wet land
are known to most.
The weeds OF poor grass land In
clude an eve daisy. mouse ear chick
weed. speedwell. eyebright and others.
Most of these will disappear when
the land Is well manured. the I'M
proved grass choking them out. The
weeds Of good land must be treated In
different way. Some are so trouble
some that the only way. when they
have been allowed to get too far
ahead. n to break up the pasture.
I This always should be avoided when
/ there IL any other chance OF success.
as a good pasture takes years to re-
establish after breaking II up. The
most difficult OF this class to eradi-
cate are the creeping buttercup and
silverweed These have wonderful vi.
/ tality and no live stock will eat them
/ Many weeds can be gotten rid Of by
/ prevention OF seeding. The various
umelliferca. such as Wild carrot. COW.
/ parsnip. hemlock. etc. also ragweed
and thistles may be kept down by
moving In due time. Docks are of a
/ tougher nature. but they may b.
usually pulled out by the root when the
ground IL soft after rain. Docks pro
duce a wonderful quantity OF seed
and trouble In their eradication Is well
| repaid
Some plants that become positive
pests on pasture land cannot grow
on meadows. These include the com
mon daisy hawkseed. There are two
parasitic weeds OF grass land: broom
rape lives partly on the roots OF clov
er. and yellow rattle on grass roots
These are not so troublesome on vel
drained land as where there Is too
much moisture. A few plants. com
monty regarded as weeds. may be m
advantage TO grass lands. when they
are there in moderation
The common dandelion. plantain
ard the various wild watches ars
among these. Wild garlic Is a most
Objectionable weed where dairy cattle
are fed. as Il destroys the flavor oi
the milk, but II is beneficial In mod
Grafton on fattening land.