Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-02
M. c.t,..n Of the Northwest.

makes no difference as to your age.
ser, color or religious principles. and
thsro 10 nc ~seleotive draft proviso,
q any chance Of being disqualified in
Any w1y-you are enlisted IN the fgnt
against the greatest OF this
region-wesds. This 10 a real fight,
and one that must be won. Every citi-
rem must make 1t his duty to destroy
wsedA pull them up. hoe them out.
smother and destroy then in every
way possible.
The above appalling figures are OBJ
tanned by H. r. Cox Of the United
States department Of agriculture. for
ident J. H. Worst Of the North Dakota
agricultural college is credited with
the statement giving our proportion.
which 1t will be noted is one-sixth of
that for the entire United States.
This il a direct. actual money
loss, such a. reduces the income from
crops whom we have unfavorable sea-
sons, but does not include the loss
due to depreciation In land values,
where weeds have practically taken
the land.
The department Of agriculture at
tributes most Of this to a lack of
proper planning of the farming OPP
erations. Weeds are a result OF a sys-
tenn Of farming which does not pro-
htbtt their growing.
The weeds which are troublesome
In this region grow among the small
grains, maturing at practically the
same time as the grains. The methods
of growing small grain are also IA
vorable to the growth Of the weeds.
Drastic Measures Necessary.
In the opinion Of many who have
watched the rapid increase in the
~~A~,-<h ~ u,naAc thoro 10 M 0ro
thing hat is more essential to this
section Of the northwest han h o n
sideration Of measures for controlling
weeds. Particularly in the northwest
section Of this state there are already
many fields that have practically been
abandoned to the weeds. Further
north, across the line, in Canada,
much OF the land has reverted to the
government, because Of the act that
the expense of cutting the weeds has
been charged up as x until the
value Of the land has been practically
consumed.
There are instances in localities in
our state where land has decreased
in value, fully one-half, within the
last ten or fifteen years, because OF
the prevalence of sow thistle, Cana,
ia thistle and quack grass.
LEGISLATION Needed.
There undoubtedly could be some
thing accomplished by legislation, but
legislation must not be depended up
on t o control the weeds. 1t requires
public opinion to secure legislation
and no legislation can be enforced
that does not meet with the approval
Of those for whom the legislation is
intended. 1t is a personal question
with every farmer, for he should b.
made responsible by law for weed:
growing on his premises, at least t
the extent Of not allowing them t
;pread to neighboring farms.
If everyone realized the full i'm
Dortance Of the weed n to tn
northwest. 1t would not be necessar.
or such things to be legislated upon
However, in many cases, where Ian,
! owned by non-residents, who d.
'ot give this matter proper considera
on, there should be ways and mean
divided for doing it for them.
sow Thistle the Greatest Menace.
Quack grass. mustard and sucl
: aeds hat have heavy seeds, o
j opagate by underground roo
aocks. may be considered as persona
property. That is, if they are growing
1ey are carried away. The weed
,ay be drifted by the snow to
light extent, but they do not f1oa
bout In the air, and travel miles an
d. lies. al does the seed of the SOY
itstle. 1t is also true that there !
eater fear Of the SOW thistle, be
Use Of its being harder to eradicate
d more detrimental, if possible
n any other weed.
Weeds Cut Down the Yield.
t must be that the destructive in
sElce Of the weeds in the fields ar
appreciated to the fullest extern
more energetic measures would b
Ken to curb them. A field whic
ows weeds cannot at the same tim
nduce a maximum crop Of grain.
There are actual results from ex
eriment stations. where %adjoinin
alds, n infested with weeds, pre-
3uced barely half what was produce