Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1918-05-24

and prolific seeding. Such crops are
consequently boon or a menace, de-
pending upon how they are handled.
Besides the usual cultivated crops,
small-grain crops can also sometimes
be cultivated to advantage in the
spring with a spike-tooth harrow or
weeder. This does not permanently
injure the young crop, and it kills
hosts of small weed seedlings which
would otherwise make trouble. Farm
ers in the upper Columbia river basin
are able to control wild mustard by
repeatedly narrowing fall-sown wheat
in the spring; without this narrowing
the mustard would be very trouble
some.
After the small-grain crop is har-
vested it is often good practice in the
Northern states to harrow or disk the
stubble to encourage the termination
of the weed seeds that are at or near
the soil surface. The seedlings are
killed by the fall plowing or by cold
weather. Some weeds, such as rag
weed and foXtail, start to mature seeds
soon after harvest, so that care must
be taken to turn the plants under be-
fore the seeds approach maturity.
Flowing without the preliminary disk
| ing would turn under millions of weed
seeds to make trouble in future years.
Moving to Prevent Seeding.
Moving is another way of prevent
ing weeds from going to seed. AS
rule, it is best to NOV when weeds
have reached the full-bloom stage.
Many farmers NOW their pastures
once or twice each year and as re-
suit have gradually driven out the
weeds and thickened the grass stand.
When there are patches in grain fields
! thick with weeds, it will pay to cut
them, grain and all, before the weeds
start to go to seed. Most careful
farmers NOW or cut their fence-row
and roadside weeds once or twice a
year to prevent their seeding.
1t pays to cut a hay crop early, in
/ order to prevent weeds from going to
seed as well as to secure better quail
ity of hay. After grain crop is re-
moved, crop of weeds, such as rag
weed or foxtail, usually follows, which,
If not disturbed, not only reseeds the
land for further crops of weeds, but
may do much damage to young seed
ing of clover or grass. Moving these
weeds will prevent most of them from
going to seed, and, further, the clip
pings will be Of value as a mulch for
fho uolHno Oroc
Hand Work to Prevent Seeding.
Quite often a few scattered weeds
will occur in field. These weeds
can be removed by hand with little
work, whereas if allowed to mature
they would thoroughly seed the LAND
and make trouble for the future. Such
weeds may be prevented from seeding
either by hand pulling or by digging
them out with a mattock, hoe, or spud
so far below the surface that new tor
! growth will not spring up and mature
, seeds. Annual and biennial weeds
will make no further appearance i
pulled or cut off when they are in fui
: bloom. The spud is tool with Ion.
handle and narrow chisel-like blaf
, at one end. This is very effective
!, disposing of weeds with thick root
such as bull thistle, mullen, and chic
ory. Many farmers have cleaned thei
> farms of corn cookie, wild mustard
and many other weeds by few hour:
, of hand work each year when thes'
weeds were in full blossom.
Sprayino to Prevent SEEDING.
Y In case of certain weeds infestin;
/ small grain crops it has been foun
S profitable to spray with solution o
D copper sulphate, iron sufphate, or salt
l If this treatment does not entirely XII
: the weeds, it at least prevents theI
D from going to seed. Such treatment
t if well done, does not permanently il
: jure the grain and is effective agains
the weeds. This method seems to be o
: most use against the wild mustar
Y family of plants.
d The spray solutions are made by di:
J. solving either II pounds Of copper SUI
r phate, 100 pounds of iron sulphate, G
:, 125 pounds of common salt in so ga
Ions Of water This quantity of solI
r ton is sufficient to spray about on
n acre. Any machine that throws fin
y mistlike spray may be used. Wher
J" areas of considerable size are to b
IS treated, traction sprayer with bool
= IL to 20 feet long is the most econom
h cal equipment.