The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1921-06-23
WEEDS CROWDING OUT
WISCONSIN CROPS
Town Chairman, Weed Commits
si0ners and Public Must Turn
the Tide.

MADISON, Wis.-The state of
Wisconsin is facing real danger in
the enormous growth and spread of
noxious weeds. Canada thistles,
morning glory, and quack grass, and
1other dangerous growths threaten
to smother the chief grain crops OF
the state unless vigorous efforts are
made to extirpate them. This is
the substance of statement sent
out this week by Prof. Stone director
of the division of seed and weed con-
troll of the State Department of
Agriculture. / Commissioner Nor
CORD, head of the department, said
Prof Stones warning could not be
too strongly emphasized. Two,
things are Immediately necessary to
stay the tide of weed growth; one is
active and persistent work on the
part of weed commissioners and the
other is an awakening of the public
mind to the danger to a point when
the weed commissioners will be
strongly supported in their efforts.
Dodder, a parasitic plant, is kill
ing clover in our great clover seed
producing sections, filling clover
seed with the minute dodder seeds
and spreading this dangerous weed
wherever the seed is shipped. Canada
thistles. and morning glory in al
sike red clover and grain fields are
likewise being spread over the state.
The whole state will soon be weigh
ed down with this mill stone of dis
advantage and oppression unless
town chairmen and weed commits
sioners enforce weed laws without
fear or favor and unless the public
stand behind them and urge them
on. Complete eradication may never
be accomplished but they can be
brought under control within rea-
sonable time by effective work done
each year.
Wisconsin has one of the best
weed laws in the union and since
the state department of agriculture
at the Capitol was given the super
vision and direction of the work in
1917 a constructive policy of putting
pressure on the enforcement of this
law has gradually been reaching
every community in the state.
Upon The town officers and weed
commissioners in the several town
ships rests the responsibility for the
thorough enforcement of weed laws.
They are elorhed with ample au-
thority to erforce the Law and ac-
complish the work. The town
chairman, village president, or city
mayor, as the case may be is re
quired by law tc appoint one or more
weed commissioners and to report
to the State Department of Agricul-
ture whether such commissioners
faithfully perform their duties. The
appointing officer who fails to ap-
point at least one sucn weed COM
missione must forfe;e not less than
AnCy VI uioIC thdh OiiC iluliui CO WI
lars unless he can show that he has
exhausted every possible source in
his attempts to obtain one.
The weed commissioner when ap-
pointed and qualified is given all
necessary authority for enforcing
the lew. He must serve written
notices on all occupants or owners
Of all noxious weed infested lands
in his district. These notices should
be served before the weeds go to
seed, but late enough so one cutting
will keep them from going to seed.
If the occupant or owner fails to
cut the weeds within six days after
receiving the notice he is subject
to a fine of five dollars a day there
after until the weeds are cnt. If
the owner or occupant refuses to
cut the weeds it is the duty of the
weed commissioner to do 50 and to
have the town, village or city
treasurer AS the case may be, en-
ter the cost of so doing in the tax
roll to be paid as other taxes on
such property are paid.
The weed commissioner has au-
thority to enter upon ALL lands where
such noxious weeds are growing and
cut the weeds without rendering him
self subject to action for trespass or
any other action resulting therefrom
provided he exercises reasonable
care in the performance Of his duty.
Having qualified as weed commits
sioner he is subject to a fine of
from $40 of $25 for each case of
neglect or refusal to perform his
duties. "a word to the wise is
sufficient"
FOR SALE-One of the best resi-
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