The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-11-10


ticed and where it is not is very strik
ing. Moving will usually hold liz
check most of the common weeds, such
as ragweed, oxeye daisy, thistles, and
briars. A few sheep on cattle pas
lures have been found very efficient In
keeping down many troublesome
weeds.
Danger of Hawkweed.
There recently has been introduced
into southwestern Virginia a weec
that gives promise of being more dam.
aging to pastures than anything that
has heretofore appeared. 1t is the field
hawkweed (Hieracium pratense), q
low-growing plant, somewhat resem.
bling narrow-leaved plantain, but the
stems and leaves are hairy. II spreads
by underground stems and forms
dense mat, which crowds out most 9TH
err plants. The flowers are bright vel.
low. borne on naked, upright stalks
8 to 20 inches high. This weed, along
with other closely related species, has
already damaged the pastures OF New
York and New England greatly. II
could now be eradicated from the
bluegrass region IL the farmers would
attack 1t before 1t is distributed fur.
Their.
Hawkweed may be destroyed by
chopplng Il out with a hoe or mattock.
If this method is used, care should be
exercised to get all the rootstocks In
the upper inch or two of the soil and
destroy them. Another method, which
seems to be about the best that can
be suggested at the present time, is to
spray the plants on clear day with
solution of ordinary salt. Three
pounds of salt to one gallon of water
Is the proportion that has given the
best results. Every patch treated
should be inspected occasionally, as II
may require two or three sprayings to
kill the hawkweed. II the weed is in
small patches, which Is the way 1t us.
ually starts, a man equipped with a
knapsack sprayer can cover large
area In day. The spraying may be
done at any time, but 1t is much easier
to find the plant when 1t is in bloom.
The snowy yellow flowers are very
conspicuous and may be seen and rec
ognized for a considerable distance.
Profits From Bluegrass Grazing.
The investigators studied carefully
the industry In a number of localities
to determine, If possible, the value of
blue grass pasture when grazed to cat
tie. In % pastures studied, they found
that the yearly returns per acre ranged
from $7.36 to $2408. From these fig
ures, however, had to be deducted the
cost of winter feeding, in which was
included roughage produced on the
farm, figured Mt fair price. The net
returns for the pasture varied from
$2.10 to $14.0S an acre, with an aver
age of $500. This return per acre
of pasture must pay the taxes, insur-
ance, fencing, and labor of caring for
the pastures and stock, and not much
Is left as interest on the investment.
At the prevailing prices of land, the
average bluegrass farmer, according to
the data obtained from these farmers,
does not make over or per cent on
his investment. The average rental
price per acre for pasture land in this
region is So an acre for fairly good
land to So for the best. This is said to
be safe and attractive business to
men with considerable capital.
Where sheep are grazed, the returns
range from $3.50 to $12.66 per acre in
six pastures studied, and the total out
lay for wintering seldom exceeds 81
head, and usually averages IS cents.
II Is pointed out, however, that the
chief drawbacks of the sheep industry
of the bluegrass region are dogs, in
ternal parasites, such as stomach
worms, nodular disease, etc. The sheep
are less subject to stomach worms In
the high mountain regions, whereas
these parasites cause such losses in
other sections that 1t Is not practicable
TO raise any breeding ewes. The ar
ticle, in connection with the grazing
industry, points out the difficulty of
getting stockers, and states that there
should be fairly profitable business
on the cheaper lands of the Blue
Ridge and In the Piedmont section in
raising beef-bred calves for the blue
grass grazlers. This will necessitate,
however, the keeping of much better
grade of beef cattle than is usual. A
good beef-bred calf will sell readily
when six months old for $25 to $50.
If the dam is of a milking strain con-
siderable additional revenue may be
obtained from the sale of dairy prod
ucts after the calf is sold. This sug-
gestlon is made, not that this type of
farming is more profitable than dairy
ing, for 1t is not, but because 1t re-
quires far less efficient labor than
dairying and offers means of utlliz-
ing vast acreage of quilted hills,
which at present is waste land.