Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1916-06-22
WEEDS, MOSQUITOES AND
OTHER UNDESIRABLES.

Editors Democrat: [ wish to say
few words about weeds to the people OF
Mineral Point and vicinity. At this
time of year farmers and gardeners are
engaged in almost incessant warfare
with weeds. Many are very successful,
unequal one and the weeds prevail.
Two weeds that we meet everywhere
are the plantain and yellow dock. The
plantain sends up a large leaf like a
cabbage, and when it starts on ground
newly seeded towers above the grass
like an umbrella and deprives it of the
sunshine; and when the sun becomes
hot the grass perishes and the weed
becomes established. The yellow dock
sends it's roots down to depth of
twelve inches, and in good soil to a
depth of twenty four inches, and when
SO deeply rooted becomes established
like an elm tree. The seed of
these weeds ripens in July, and if it
falls on cultivated ground will produce
more than hundred fold. They should
be cut out this month or early in the
next. A sharp cutting implement well
handled will do the work. Where the
soil will permit the entire long tapering
root Of the yellow dock can be drawn
out and if exposed to the sun for day
or two will be dead as a mackerel.
That will be it's finish; it will bear no
more seed. If these weeds have to bel
taken out Of what way down east is
called stunny ground, few gaps may
be made in the cutting implement, but
these can be easily taken out by an
emery wheel or good grind stone.
But where there are big stones in the
ground the removal Of these weeds re-
quires an expert with mining outfit
and ynamite-one skilled in the use of
explosives.
We have the best limestone soil in
the world here-soil that produces the
white oak, blue grass and alfalfa-and
it is poor economy to allow soil so pro-
ductive to be shaded by weeds and big
trees. One big tree that can be spared
is the white oak. 1t is Indigenous and
was here when the noble red man oc-
cupied this section-when the crank
thistle nodded in the wind and the wild
fox dug his hole unscared'' It shell
tered the settlers cabin. 1t has with
stood the blasts and storms Of a
century, inclining, if at all, in the
direction from which the storms came,
always facing the enemy and presenting
solid front to all resistance. 1t is
gnarled and knotted. a veteran Of many
wars; but cannot be said to be super
animated in any sense of the word,
because if left undisturbed it might live
another century. Let it come down.
another tree which is not Indigenous,
but came with the advent of civiliza
ton, is the soft maple. Like the pine,
it rises to height of from seventy five
to one hundred feet. There are very
many of these tall trees in the city, and
in the late afternoon they cast a
shadow that extends over quarter of
mile, and would extend farther were it
not that the Mineral Point hill is located
where it is, and interposes it's rocky
barrier. What garden products we
might have, what beautiful grass and
flowers would grow were it not for
these overshadowing trees. In the gar
dens would be all kinds of food plants,
potatoes, onions, carrot, beets, turnips,
caulifower, and cabbage, so that every
family might have little sauer kraut
for winter.
Another bad effect of SO much shade
is that it is the habitat Of the mosquito.
1t is its pleasure ground, its recreation
park. Take a walk through part of
this territory any hot day in summer
and you will see mosquitoes everywhere
enjoying life to the fullest extent.
Stand closely to one of these animated
clouds of mosquitoes and watch their
movements, as they fly with a circular
motion, humming softly, rising and
falling but never touching the ground.
1t may be supervised play or military
maneuvers, that they are in training
to keep themselves fit and in state of
constant preparedness. There will be
no stragglers from the main body to