Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-06-09

InOeo VINO are Interested IN tn0 az
ricultural welfare Of this region. and
who have occasion to travel about the
country to any extent. must be struck
with the fact that there is a great in
crease In the prevalence OF the most
noxious weeds. Many fields are al
most completely over-run with quack
grass and SOW thistle. the worst weeds
that there are to contend with.
That something must be done to
overcome this is evident to everyone
who is interested in the welfare of this
section.
Not All Farms Are Weedy.
AS passes along the roads it will
be noticed that there are farms that
are practically free of all kinds of
weeds, and it will be noticed that
these farms are owned and operated
by men that are good farmers, and
careful as to allowing these weeds to
gain a foothold on their farms.
It is probable that the greatest
harm from weeds zones from land
that is rented or owned by careless
farmers. who have little pr no con
sideration for these matters.
1t is also true. that especially 10
thistle, is becoming widely distributed
because there are areas Of land own
ed by people who do not live on the
land and farm it as it should be farm
ed. There weeds go to seed and the
seed is blown from these fields to
clean fields. Laws should be enacted
n enforced to prevent this. II the
seriousness Of this matter were realiz-
ed there would be much more action
along these lines.
Study Weeds.
1t is essential that everyone who is
NJ oil cnnnoCfo1 with tho forr,ir0 mn
erations of this region should study
weed and kno them II know their
habits and how best to combat them.
The sow thistle is perhaps the worst
weed that we have to contend with,
n this is a weed hat lives over
from year to year in the ground, and
grows out further and further each
year. and occupies the soil to the en-
tent of excluding the growth OF any
other plant. The seed of this weed is
very fine and equipped with feather
like appendages. which allows it to
be blown about in the air and seed
down new areas. On this it is
much more to be feared than the
more persistent quack grass. The SOW
thistle lives from year to year in the
ground and the root stocks extend out
further and further, so that it can
not be killed by simply cutting the
top off and not allowing it to go to
seed. However, if not allowed to go
to seed it will not be distributed over
other areas.
1t is also tru that the SOW thistle
is eaten by practically all kinds of
live stock. and hogs especially are
fond Of the roots. and will dig them
out of the ground. This is also true
OF quack grass to a certain extent, al
though hogs will not destroy quack
grass to the same extent which they
will SOW thistle.
In counties further north, Pembina
and Walsh, farmers are finding that
they must get into live stock to a
greater extent in order to utilize
these noxious weeds, and many fields
are being fenced and pastured with
sheep and hogs and so a return is be-
wise be practically waste land. These
weeds make good pasture. Others are
finding that IL they allow the thistles
to grow until about the first of June,
n then plow them under and SOW to
barley or even early oats or millet,
a fairly good crop can be secured be-
fore these weeds go to seed. This
method, however. does not DESTROY the
weeds entirely. but weakens them
considerably, and if this practice is
followed from cal to yea they can
be overcome to n great extent.
Quack Grass.
Quack grass is a perennial, and has
underground root stocks, the same as
the sow thistle. and spreads in the
same manner. 1t also seeds very pro-
ILLEGALLY, and this seed ma be gather
ed in hay or may be scattered over
the fields by winds. to some extent,
1t Is heavy n Toes not blow about
the country as does the seed Of the
SOW thistle. For this reason it is really
less to be feared than the sow thistle,
The roots Of quack grass are much
harder to break up and get out Of the
ground than the SOW thistle. and for
this reason is harder to control, and
1T is almost impossible to grow a crop
of any kind on land that is badly in
tested with uuack grass. unless it is
given some previous treatment to de
stroy most of the plants.
In talking with farmers in various
sections of the country. one hears of
q great many methods for controllins
these weeds.
One of the %favorite methods of
weakening quack grass or destroying
1t. where possible to do so. is to pas
ture 1t for a year or two with stock,
then pillow 1t in the heat Of the sum
mer, and allow the roots to be en-
posed to h sun. If these should
stAit GROWING DeIOre cold weather,
they should be disked or replowed. or
stirred in some way so as to leave
them absolutely loose in the winter.
If the winter is dry. with very little
snow. being exposed to the freezing
and drying, they will be practically
all dead by spring. During the pas,
season I have seen several fields tina
were treated in this way, and appar-
entity there is very little life in the
quack grass. However, with good
glowing conditions there doubtless
will be enough roots to fairly well In
fest the ground again. bu: they viii,
got prev the s:oHiny II :. go,i
crop on tire land this year, and 4
some such crop as millet or sorghum,
or hemp is grown on the land. which
will shade these weakened quach
grass plants to a large extent. there
doubtless will be very little quacl
grass another year.
For small patches of quack gras,
which are usually the first to be no.
iced in the field. II the precaution /.
X to smother these out with straw
or something tina will keep the high,
from them. they can be destroyed.
One man gave his experience, say.
tnk that II a couple Of feet or so OF