Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1919-05-16

bound to kill the weed, so | had built
an ordinary road drag, and | did not
pillow this ground nor allow it to be
cultivated in any way. By the simple
use OF driving this road drag over the
ground, starting early in the spring
while the ground is wet, making the
ground level as a floor, then about the
first OF May, when this weed first
puts in its appearance, and lasts until
about September 18th. This road drag
must be fitted with steeel plates so
it will hold keen edge, as if it was
wood it would soon round off and
get smooth. This road drag will simp-
ly sheer anything at the surface of
the ground, especially this particular
plant, as it is very tender and easy
to cut. 1t will be necessary to use
this road drag about every other day,
owing to the fact that this weed
grows very rapidly, and especially in
the very hot weather. BY continu-
Gus repetition of this method it will
prevent the weed from either leafing
out or blooming, and eventually it is
absolutely bound to kill the plant, but
it will take about three or four years,
and will leave the ground in good
condition, as there will be nothing at
all growing on the ground, whereas if
one was to use salt or any other pois-
onous liquid strong enough to kill this
kind of a weed, it would no doubt
leave the ground ruined for period
of years.
This method may seem to the farm
er as very burdensome one, but l
wish to say that when we take into
consideration the fact that some
farmers carelessly, and without real
knowledge of the real seriousness of
this plant, may pillow through patch
of this kind and scatter the vines all
over the farm, there is more danger
from this plant spreading from roots
than from seeds. Every little root
a half inch long, if covered with
moist dirt, will grow, and eventually
our country will have something that
will require some attention, and
would like to say right here, that in
my opinion, every honest farmer
should take on his own responsibility,
some method to eradicate this weed
and the one that | have outlined is
not a burdensome task at all, as in
the first place this weed is invariably
found in old garden beds, Usually
quite near ones house and | find in
our busy season, such as our haying
time, | can always find plenty of
time in the morning, while the dew
is on, for some man and team to
cover this ground, which usually takes
about one hours time. When the
] season is finished | find that tie real
cost for both man and team, devoted
to this labor, is very small expense
and on the other hand a great bene-
! fit is derived, in my opinion, to the
farmer who has this obnoxious weed,
/ it is worth more than $1,000 to the
value of his farm to have this weed
destroyed.
While l refer to this weed as prac-
tically garden pest in Stevens coun-
/ ty | have recently been told that in
other parts of the state it is CON
sidered more of a field pest, as it is
known to cover forty acre fields. This
is very reasonable for one to imagine,
as in a farming country such as a
wheat or grain growing country it is
very easy that if man plows, har-
rows, and discs this ground, and at
the same time considers the tangled
mass of little white roots that his
pillow and harrow will drag all over
the fields, to see that instead of a
garden patch, he may soon have a
quarter section or a section, say in a
period of Is or 20 years, that will
be very badly infested with this plant
and which in this case will mean the
complete destruction of his farm. and
in such case it would take approx
mately 500 an acre to reclaim his
land.
| have worked out this road drag
method and find that it works very
satisfactorily, but will say that a
very heavy roller may be added to
this system with much success, as
the real success of this method is to
keep the ground packed as hard as
possible, and not to stir the ground
in any way. On my place where the
weed grew as thick as mat, before
/ started this drag system, there is
absolutely no sign of it now, but ow
{ 4 10