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

oic IL iulu SIlOulu We TOldtcu anu u
cultivated crop put in. for the purpose
OF cleaning the soil. 1t Is demonstrate
ed, beyond the question Of a doubt,
that a cultivated crop is the best
means Of cleaning the soil, and at the
same time relieving it from growing
the one crop continuously.
Rotation of Crops.
Rotation of crops has been discuss
ed previously in other articles, but
there is no place where 1t is more
essential than in the control of weeds.
With in u fields. are the result of a
system of farming small grain ex-
clusively, which allows these to ac-
cumulate in the soil. A cultivated
crop cleans up the weeds and at the
same time furnished food for live
stock. and when the manur that is
produced by the handling of live
stock is returned to the soil. the soil
is built up and produces better crops.
On the 1. H. c. farm his spring
we have 8 acres that has been in al.
falfa two years, and one year in corn.
This land was fall plowed and har-
rowed several times early to put it in
5000 shape, ans nothing more done
to it until h first Of last week. At
that time there was not. a plant of
wild oats or mustard any place on the
field. There had, however, been one
small patch of SOW thistle started.
This was noticed In the corn last
year, and hoed out. However, they
were not all destroyed and this land
was put In beans This year. and will
be given careful hoeing with the idea
of Graduating it to the largest extent
possible. However. it was very notice.
able that this land was absolutely
free of wild oats n mustard, where
as -four years ago it was one solid
mat of them before it was sown to
alfalfa and 1t was necessary to cut
the alfalfa our times the first yea to
prevent the wild oats and mustard
from seeding. This indicates that it
will be possible to absolutely clear up
ground In two or three years by SOW
ing to some perennial crop, such as
alfalfa.
It Is also believed by many that
have tried it. that alfalfa will practic-
ally destroy quack grass and sow this
tie. Tha Is. the frequent cutting Of
the alfalfa will prevent the seeding of
these crops, and if it is possible to
get the alfalfa seeded and started,
the alfalfa will crowd them out to a
large extent.
Weeds Mean Poor Land.
1t Is also noticed that weeds APP
parently do better on land that pro-
duces a rather poor crop. The reason
for this doubtless is that the weeds
have learned to ecure their food and
moisture from almost any SOL and the
grain crops which are given better at
tention are not so hardy and not so
able to contend with the more vigor-
Gus weeds. Consequently as the land
becomes more n more depleted in
plant food. Due to the one crop pys-
tenn, which does not return anything
to the soil, we may expect an increase
In the apparent nervousness of the
weeds.
II the soils are properly handled,
rotated and built up with the addition
OF fertilizers of some kind. the crop
vii! grow better and consequently we
will not notice the weeds to 80 great
an extent as we do on the poor soils.
Weeds Are q Real Foe.
There is absolutely no question but
that the weed problem of this region
is the most vital of anything that
concerns us. We need only to make q
trip north to the Canadian line, or
over into Canada to see the effect that
weeds have had on the conditions of
the country. There are many fields
tnat are actually abandoned, and have
been abandoned for a number of
years. and over in the province of
Manitoba there Is land that has re-
verified to the government because they
have a weed law which compels the
cutting of all weeds. On nonresident
lands the weeds are cut and the ex-
pense attached to the land the same
as taxes. and in many cases this has
been done so long hat the value of
the land has been practically exhaust
ed for this lind of work, and so the
land reverted to the government.
1t will be necessary to consider
just such matters in this country in
Il short time. unless some concerted
action Is taken to eradicate these
weeds. 1t Is not a question for a single
farmer. nor for a township, but it "a
a question for a whole section, The
sow thistle. during a windy day, may
scatter seed from the Canadian line
to the south line of our state. In a
ride last summer from Grand Forks
to Fargo there was not a mile in the
whole district along the railrond.
where SOW thistle could not be .ean
1t Is time for the farmer to wake
up and also for the county commits
%s'oners. and others Interested in his
to see that these weeds IRE not allow
ed to go to seed, and that everything
possible be done to o.es come this
NO DEVELOPMENTS.
Crrt~raelN No -~