Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1917-03-22

know that sorry business OF MS dlon I
do any good, either for himself or his
neighbors in this case. Those Cana
dian thistles are still spreading and
now practically beyond all control.
l was sorry that l was unable to be
present at the sessions of the four
days farmers convention recently held
in this city, but there were some
things going on just at that time in
Bismarck that l had to look after and
was thus deprived of the benefit and
pleasure of attending the meetings,
gathering as they did visitors from
all over the county and where so manv
splendid ideas were exchanged on this
and kindred subjects that mean so
much of value to all whose one great
interest in life is centered on farming.
Personally l am especially interest
ed in the weed question and am glad
to know of the adoption of that set of
resolutions signed by three hundred
and fifty of our best farmers in at
tendance at the Langdon convention,
and SEN out broadcast over the u
ty. They certainly ought to stir all
of US into action and a better way of
going after this problem. During
the winter of a year ago we had a lit
tile discussion through the columns of
the papers on the weed question and
| myself know there are instances
where it resulted in some good being
accomplished. 1t is to be hoped that
now there has been such q public de-
monstration made as the stand taken
at the farmers convention of a couple
of weeks ago, the county and town
ship officials will take the matter up
in dead earnest, leaving no stone un-
turned in forcing all of us who own
land to do our duty in the eradication
of noxious weeds of all kinds. If this
is done and each n does his duty
there is no earthly reason why we
cannot practically eradicate the thistle
from every acre of farm land in the
county before the close of the first
years warfare. The farmer who
hasn't any quack grass on his land is
a very lucky man and it is up to him
to see that none of this soil robbing
plant gets a start there. The only
way that those who have it can get
rid of it is to start cultivation right
away after seeding and for three
months without any let up the patch
should be cultivated once each week.
This l know means a lot of work
but it is the only real way in which
to do the business. No half way
business will do anything toward kill.
ing off quack grass.
The Canadian thistle is gradually
spreading, but it is not really so hard
to kill as some other kinds of weeds
if we go after it with cultivation.
The thing that l would like to see
done this year is to drive the sow
thistle clear out of our county. 1t
will mean a sacrifice on the part of
every man who has this weed pest on
his land. but let us get it before it
gets US.
There is one part of that set of
weed resolutions that | think for my
part | would be in favor of changing.
1t is the clause which provide for the
hiring of a weed commissioner in each
district of four townships and that his
pay be apportioned to each township
in accordance to the amount of work
done therein. | think that the whole
four townships should pay regardless
of in what township the most work
had to be done in. If the weed COM
missioners do their whole duty they
will have earned their pay and it will
be the best invested money that we
as farmers have ever been called to
expend. Let US boost this matter
and get weed commissioners who will
work and encourage them in it.
John Mahon.