The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-16
Known as Field Hawk-Weed
and 1t Seriously Threatens
Pastures in This State.

known as hawk-weed which has made
its appearance in western North
Carolina and Virginia, and in West
Virginia, seriously threatens the ma.
tive pastures, which are the chief
source Of livelihood Of many IN the
mountains Of the southern Appalach-
ian highlands. In this district, gras.
ing is the chief agricultural industry.
Wherever the forests have been cut
away the mountain slopes have been
covered with vast natural pastures OF
F., strong, sod-farming grasses upon
which thousands OF young cattle are
raised to supply the demands for
feeders in the famous bluegrass
regions Of Virginia, Kentucky and
Tennessee.
The field hawk-weed. which Is
now known to be in this section,
belongs to q, group of plants that
includes the orange. hawk-weed, or
devils paint brush, and the king
devil weed, two Of the most destruc-
tive weeds known tn3pastures in this
country. Until recently the various
hawk-weeds were not known to be
troublesome south Of Pennsylvania,
but the field hawk-weed appears to
have suddenly found a very congenial
location In the southern mountains,
where 1t Is now spreading rapidly.
While confined mostly to the high
attitudes. the weed has appeared in
some OF the. lower valleys. and. is
liable to spread into the high parts
OF the Shenandoah valley and east.
ern Kentucky and Tennessee. 1t prob
ably will not become troublesome in
the lower and warmer portions oil
these Districts
Aiultiplies Rapidly.
The weed first appears as a few
scattered individuals. but these
multiply with amazing rapidly. AL.
most before the farmer Is aware OF
Its presence, the weed Is occupying
several square rods Of his grass land
and quick action will then be re.
Quired to prevent the weed from
taking full possession Of the field
Instances are by no means rare where
whole mountain sides that were once
fine grazing land are now nothing but
a barren mass Of hawk-weed, and
almost ,valueless.t Worse still, after
the hawk-weed has occupied the
land for few years, It. seems to be-
come sod-bonnd, or 'self-poisoned
and begins to slough or peel of
exposing the, soil to the ruinous &C.
ton Of erosion.
Warming to Pasture Owners.
A warning is. therefore, given tc
all persons in the mountain terri
tory to be on the lookout for this
weed and take energetic measures
to suppress 1t. After hawk-weed
once obtains foothold, 1t is almost
impossible. or at least, impractical
to stamp It out completely, but 1t car
be kept within reasonable bounds by
a little watchfulness.
The weed can be recognized by III
cluster Of bright yellow flower heads
somewhat resembling half-oper
flower heads of the sdandelion. These
flowers appear early in June. borne
on the tops Of slender almost leafless
stems, four to twelve inches high
Each stem rises from the center OF Q
cluster OF dark green, pointed hairy
leaves, and tits to the leaves that
| the plant owes-its destructive quail.
ties. The leaves lie fiat on the ground
in a compact mat, hugging the
ground SO closely that nothing can
grow between them, and as the plants
are usually crowded together In
patches, a dense carpet OF the weed
Is formed in which scarcely a spear
of grass remains.
The hawk-weed, spreads chiefly by
means of its seeds, but each plant
also produces Negatively, though
more slowly, by means OF runners
which are sent out just at or below
the surface. Of the ground. and take
root and sprout much after the fash
ion Of strawberry runners. In this
way a patch will gradually grow
larger and larger, even though nc
seeds are allowed to form.
Methods for Control
When hawk-weed first appears, one
should ride over the pasture ana
along the fences on horseback locat,
ing every patch. This Is easily done
when the. weed is in bloom. A sacA
and a hoe should be carried along
and every patch of the weed care.
fully dug up and carried off to he
burned. This will not take long, and
If faithfully attended to every year
there need be little fear Of hawk.
weed. Another good plan is to salt
the cattle only on the patches Of
hawk-weed, as a heavy application Of
dry salt will nearly kill the hawk,
weed, and the licking of the cattle
will help to wear 1t out. Above al
things, do not let the.weed go-to seed
for the seeds'are equipped with feath.
cry plumes and scatter far and wide
II the patches Of ..hawk-weed are toe
largesto be dug out or sailed, they
should at least be. mown early II
June, Just as the weed is coming into
full bloom, using a sharp scythe ant
being careful to clip off all the flower
stems. II mown once in this way, thu
weed ordinarily will not make seedi
again that year. Moving does moi
eradicate the weed, because the plant
is Parental; that is, its roots live
over from year to year. Moving
merely prevents one patch from in
testing whole neighborhood,
The only way to exterminate
large area Of .hawk-weed 1t to pillow
and cultivate the ground. using {
rotation Of corn-two years-fol
lowed by wheat or ibuckwheat, before
reseeding. Unfortunately, most o.
that experimental psychology has beer
able to make such, a differential dag.
nosis. It is now possible to show whal
is child's relative performance ii