Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-06-29
Editorial Comment
The New Pest of the Fields.


confronting The farmers of certain
sections of Maine is the deadly plant
known as the orange hawk weed.
In some localities this has already
displaced all the grass in the fields and
is spreading in every direction. Not
ably is this the case in West Gardiner
ana vicinity where for ScN eral miles no
ether form of plant life can be seen.
rs lar as the eye can reach on both
sldes OF the electric ears the fields are
one solid mass OF this scourge. The
great danger from this weed lies in the
fact that it spreads from both the
seed and the root. Cutting it off does
no good as the roots remain in the
ground to continue their work of
spreading the next year. The only
possible way that it can be exter-
minated is by cultivation or the free
use OF salt. The disease has now
progressed SO far that this has become
lhpracticable- II is growing by the
roadsldes. in the bushes and even ex-
tending INTO the forests where the
ground is not toe shaded. 1t is alb
solutely destructive to grass on ac-
CROWN
and no domestic animal can be in
dueed to touch it for food The
Ahgora goat will eat Il rail fence with
great eomplaeency bat cannot be made
10 swallow single mouthful of the
orange hawk week. For this reason
II is doubly dangerous and it nov
Looks as If the State would be Obliged
10 take the situation in hand as it has
already done in the case of the gypsy
and broWntail moths. II will be an
even harder enemy to fight on ac-
count of it's vitality and tendency t,
spread by seed and root Like severa
other OF our farm pests this was in
troduced into Maine AS a flower. This
loily was on par with the action OF
the Massachusetts scientist who
brought the first gypsy moth from
Europe thinking to cross them wifi
other native moths and produce ar
American silk worm, The creature.
escaped from their keeper and tina
experiment has since cost the state OF
massachusetts millions of dollars. II
the same careless manner the potato
bug was brought from Colorado and
Maine farmers. All tie spraying thai
Is now done to raise the tubers might
nave been avoided by a little care OF
even by prompt action after the pest
was here.
Now, what shall be done with tn,
orange hawk weed that is spreadinr ove
tue state? That something must h.
done and done quickly is apparent to an,
person VINO travels over the electric roaf
between Lewiston and the Kennebec |
completely ruins any farm where it gain,
Ioothold, a least so far as raising ha4
Is concerned. The Journal repeatedE
warned the farmers of Maine agafns
tilS weed when II made its appearance,
mere several years ago but the advic,
went unheeded and unheard Had In
evil been throttled at that time 1t NIGH
nave been eXterminated at a slight cost
put $WO,eW cannot do it today, No mat
ter what it costs it must be done In tn,
meantime we again urge the farmers o
Maine to destroy this pest at it's FIRST ap
pearance A slight bunch first appear
in field and this can without great Of
TORT be pulled up by the roots. This /,
t'fa only effective method by which il
can be destroyed and its spread prevent.
ed. of course thorough cultivation will
do the same thing but it is impractical
BILE for farmers to pillow their whole
FIELDS. Even if this could be done the,
sides and pastures Some other wa
must be devised to meet the danger. ant
it would seem that here Is fair fielf
and an inviting opportunity for our agri
cultural college and experiment station
at Orono to display their talent. In fact
we fail to understand why they have no
sounded the alarm before this. The evi
has now passed beyond the stage OF in
dividual effort and must be met by SOM
organized force. The king devil weed i
another comparatively new pest that il
gaining great Roadway through Sagada
hoe county and other sections. Except il
n no n
hawk weed and is equally dangerous. 1t:
bright colors can be seen massed il
scores of fields and it spreads in this
same manner by both root and seed I
eternal vigilance is the price of liberty
the same maxim holds good of the agri
culture of our State.