Grand Forks herald., 1917-02-24


not appreciated to the fullest extent,
or more energetic measures would be
taken to curb them. A field which
grows weeds cannot at the same time
produce maximum crop of grain.
There are actual results from ex-
pertinent stations, where adjoining
fields, one infested with weeds, pro-
duced barely half what was produced
by an adjoining field which was free
of weeds.
They Reduce the Price of Grains.
The actual loss from dockage in the
states of Minnesota and North Dakota
is almost unbelievable. Grain In
spectors are maintained at the prin-
cipal grain markets to do the grad
ing. If the grain marketed at Duluth
were docked an average of only 1-5
pounds per bushel, it would mean
that from the crop marketed from
Minnesota alone, there would be an
equivalent loss Of over three million
bushels Of wheat. which at IS cents
per bushel would amount to $780,
| 600 a year.
/, At the local elevators in this region
there are many samples delivered
which run up practically SO per cent
of wild oats, mustard, etc. The farm
threshing of them, hauls them to
market and gets absolutely nothing
for them.
Dockage at many of the grain re-
ceiving points of the northwest is so
heavy, that j. F. Merrill, secretary of
the Chicago board Of trade, says that
what the people Of the northwest
need is not government inspector,
but tanning mills"
Weeds Rob the Soil.
A weedy farm. bought at any price,
would be expensive. Land must re-
turn interest on the investment and 1t
can do this only when it produces in
accordance with its value If only Is
nushels of wheat are produced per
acre, when there should he 80. the
land does not return interest on the
investment. and this is the truth TODAY
IN many cases in the northwest. That
Is, land that when new and free of
weeds. produced rs to 80 bushels to
the acre, and could be bought at TX
to 20 dollars per acre, today is valued
at $40 to $50 per acre. and will pro-
duce only 10 to Is bushels of wheat
per acre.
If it costs SIS to $40 per acre. as
1t doubtless will in many cases. to
get rid of thistles and quack grass.
ana taking into account the dis
agreeableness Of this kind of work.
buyers would not be induced to take
such lano. even at such reductions,
"hen they could buy land far enough
away from such weed infested areas
as not to be bothered.
A Weedy farm not only lowers the
value OF its own land, but all the land
IN the neighborhood
weeds Give an Appearance of Shift.
leSsncss.
IT may be that appearance ia Of
MINOR Importance. but a mans self
iiespect, or community's self-respecs
IS not a small matter. No man who
drives into his yard and nnhitchas
IN patch Of quack grass. sow thistle
ana mustard, can keep his or the
! community's respect, or a good onin-
ion of himself. eN op'n-
! The influence of the r,or+h,.,
patches of weeds on his farm NAV
cause MIN to go into the house with
t,iuuus hiu ooots. Or to be niggardly to
ts LIS ; wiIe; surly to his children. lie to
nna "eis1oor, and to cheat in a trade.
oI.u o,ti. generally neglect his duty as a
! SitlZen or the community. Weeds arc
aemoralfzing as well as destructive
asioe "a from the economical value there
IS wonderful moral influence il, y
.leah, Weil-kept farm. PRODUCING ali
VIZ w pest etort can make it WELD.
why Is Weed a Weed?
:. weed is a plant out of place. and
- u1uplesome because it adapts itself
is a., conolt1ons. 1t spreads easily.
ioh tau ~, 20 control and works on the
Job all the time. Weeds are onite
often spoken of as "undesirable Nv pIi,t
citizens" This means that ,aI.. p,am.
vaIuable va plants may become waeds
s.n waen tney get out of place. For in.
stance alfalfa in this region NO., ~
qulte frequently ruined by h1ua or, 60
coming IN and finally crowdinr ont
the alfalfa. "oihs out
s,aa1, n1wever' as a general thing we
pean - an.o.;s o. weed as being plant that
n,.pt 10 p.actlcaiiv useless. A. hot house
b n tha - ano, not hkely to become menace
Al tne grain fields. 1t is too tender
and will not stand the condi.inna @ .huer
which 1t would encounter in s,'nb
places, but the plant which has Az
cured Tor thousands of years. which
| mas round its way from the old world
| py being carried across the ocea -
and growing in New England and
gradually advancing westward with
clVlilzation, changing with the var.
Ious conditions they meet. endurin.
tne .e, not sun, drought, and cold winters
ed plants '"e cuitlVat-
To such a weed we dofr o,,r ,,.,
why! Because 1t is an enemy thst
commands respect-it is a cono,eror
1T has fought many bitter fights with
1rost' rain and sun. battles with birds.
STOCK and more battles with Other
vegetation, and always come or con-
queror. We must credit It with ner-
severance. with endurance, and
Observation-Disclosures" Such are o,,an ni,
grass. Canada thistle and sow thistle
Every mans hand has been against
them, and they have fought their wav
across continents. and they are Civ
ing us hard fight today. How? Nv
adapting themselves to surroundings:
by having learned to protect them.
selves against all the adversaries,
enumerated: Frost, drought. heat
moving, spudding and smotherinR.
What Are We Going to Do About It.
All we'll know that the various
kinds Of weeds. which are menacinp
agriculture in this region today, have
received considerable attention. and
there are almost as many means and
methods of combating them as there