Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-06-24
Weeds and How to Control Them.

Weeds and How to Control Them.
abstract Of lecture given by Prof. w. l.. Slate.
| Jr Farmers Week Course, Orono.)
IL has been said that a weed is plant
out of place. Thisis undoubtedly true
from certain standpoints, but for the
| farmer, the weed is more-it il a pest,
an enemy, q source of financial loss.
Recent experimentation even suggests
| that it is weeds, not the lack of mulch,
that lowers our corn crop. However
that may be, We do know that they re-
duce our corn crop yields and values.
How Weeds injure Crops. BY using
plant food. This is so obvious that II
needs no explanation.
By using water needed for the crop.
Every growing plant is constantly TAX
ing water from the soil and giving it of
through the leaves. A single corn plant
may use over 500 pounds of water dur
ing its growing season.
By crowding out economic plants.
The case OF witch" grass running
out" other grasses, is an example Of
this, and many others might be cited.
inconvenience in harvesting, reducing
value of crop, as weeds in hay, and har-
boring of fungus diseases, are some of
the other ways in which weeds ipjure
crops.
How we Get Weeds. 1t often occurs
that new weed appears on farm,
takes possession of whole fields, and one
ls at a loss to know how il came there.
rhe most frequent sources are our waste
pastures, fence rows, rosdsides, and
other waste places. Weeds are allowed
ia nd
wind, by the wash from higher lands, oy
animals and birds. Some states nave
avs that make it a misdemesnor to let
uoxious weeds grow. Grass and clover
,eed bring more weeds 10 the farmer
than he realizes. With this in mind, we
nave passed pure seed laws, so that a
purchaser may know when he Is getting
poor seed or good.
Means of Combating Weeds. Tillsge
is necessary. Better have less area and
keep it clean. Modern tools are a great
aid in this fight.
Short rotations are necessary Tor many
weeds that tend to infest our meadows.
Moving and burning often are worth
while, but should be done before the
weeds form seed.
Spraying with herbicides is receiving
considerable attention. Copper sui
phate and iron sulphste are being used
with success, but care must DO taken
that the work is done thoroughly and
under proper conditions to obtain good
results. Twelve pounds of copper sui
phate (olue yitriOD in tfty-two gallons
of water is effective on common mustard,
prickly lettuce, and goosefoot. Spray
when leaves are dry. Iron sulphate, 100
pounds to barrel of water, has been
found most effective on mustard. Spray
when the plants are six to twelve inches
high and the leaves are dry. 1t may DO
| necessary to repeat the spraying. The
cost will be about 81 80 per acre.
Some Specific Cases.
Quack grass witch or scutch grass)
/ rillage is the best means to clean up n
field. The root stalks are persistent,
and must be turned up TO sun or frost
until killed out. For a thorough discus
sion see Farmers Bulletin No. 464.
Sorrel. There is common idea
that sorrel is An indication OF sour land
rhis is not true, but may appear so from
the fact that use of lime is followed by
the disappearance of sorrel. The fact is
that the lime encourages closer growth,
and this keeps the sorrel from taking
possession of the field. BY all means
see that clover seed sown is free from
sorrel, since this is the chief source OF
| the weed.
Mustards. Tillsge, clean seed, aud
sprays are the means at hand for COM
| batting mustard. Grain fields may be
sprayed with little or no injury to the
crop, and the expense Is not great
enough to be factor.
Hawkweed. Devil weed, Paint
brush.) Since the root stalks are fairly
close 10 the surface, this weed may be
handled by blowing shallow, and surface
working, much as for Quack Grass. A
short rotation is also essential. On
fields where this is impracticable, salt
may be used. About 20 pounds to the
square rod.
Daisy or White weed. A short ro-
tatiou again applies here. To prevent
spreading, the grass should be cut early.
| The weed seeds are not ripe at that
time, and later, plowing will destroy the
Il Dlants