Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1918-05-17

prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture)
If Il is not practicable for the farm
er to dispose of his weeds when they
are small he should make every effort
to prevent them from going to seed.
If weeds are attacked when the most
advanced have just reached the full
blossom stage, they can be prevented
from seeding. At this stage, too, the
roots are at their weakest, especially
those of the ANIMALS and biennials,
which are largely exhausted. No
time should be lost, however, in dis.
posing of weeds when che f~ull-blossom-
Ing stage has been reached, as seeds
will shortly be formed. Some weeds,
such rs pigweed, produce blossoms
that are very inc%Onspicuous, 81 that
unless closely watched they will go
to seed before one is aware of it.
TllIage to Control Weeds.
While tlllage In its relation to
weeds usually is practiced for the
benefit of the immediate crop, 1t also
may serve the purpose of preventing
hosts of weeds from maturing seeds.
Thorough tillage serves the additional
purpose of encouraging the rapid
termination of weed seeds In the soil
while killing the weed seedlings when
young. In no way is the old adage
"A stitch in time saves nine" better
illustrated than in killing weeds by
tillage soon after they have germinat-
ed rather than delaying the work un-
til they have attained some size.
The thorough preparation of the
seedbed for every crop is an impOr-
tant part in the control Of weeds
After blowing, nearly all farmers use
a disk or a sprlng-tooth or spike-toOth
harrow to reduce the soil to q
good seeded condition. Each of
these borrowings destroys hosts OF
young weed seedlings. AS II is only
the weed seeds within a few inches
Of the surface of the soil that ger
inmate and as the borrowings encour
age the rapid termination of the weed
seeds, thoroughly narrowing at this pc
riod may be relied upon to kill a large
portion of the weeds that will appear
during the season. In fact, it some
times happens that the seeded has
been so well prepared that after plant
ing a cultivated crop, such as cOrn
cotton, or potatoes, but little cultiva
ton is required.
Kill Weeds by Dragging.
After planting the cultivated croI
the same object, that of attacking the
weeds when young, should be kept II
mind. To this end a drag harrow OF
a spike-tOoth harrow is frequent!
used, both before and after the crOI
! comes up. More weeds will be killed
by one dragging at this time than by
several civilizations when the plants
have become larger. The weeder II
also a valuable implement for use a
this stage. By removing some Of thu
teeth OF this tool it can be used II
corn until the crop is nearly wais
high. Indeed, some excellent crops o.
corn have been grown by the use O.
The weeder only. Some soils are too
stony or otherwise not suited to tn,
use of this implement, but where 1
can be used the weeder is one Of tn,
most valuable tools on the farm. Tn,
drag harrow and weeder may also b,
used to advantage with potatoes, cot
ton, and other cultivated crops. Afte.
the crops have become so large tina
these implements can no longer b.
used, the tillage is performed witt
c~ultivatOrs. CultivatOrs that destro!
weeds most effectively should be used
The best tools for this purpose var!
with the kind Of crop and the type ant
condition Of the soil, so that it 4
difficult to lay down exact rules as t
he choice of %cultlvatOrs. Intercultura
tlllage is especially effective in con
trolling weeds If the crop has beel
planted In checkrOws so as to perml
the implement to work in two direC
lions.
If the work of preparation and AT
tertillage has been thorough, fey
weeds will come up and go to see
after cultivation stops. This is es
peclally true where a winter cove
crop, such as wheat, crimson clover
or vetch follows the cultivated crop.
Cultivated crops, therefore, Offe
abundant opportunity to rid a farr
Of weeds. II properly handled, the
are rightly termed cleaning crops.
On the other hand, where these crop
are not well cultivated, weeds are az
tually stimulated to vigorous growt