The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1921-06-28
WEED EXCURSIONS
AWAKENED INTEREST
FARMERS OF LATAH COUNTY
ORGANIZED TO FIGHT WEED
PESTS SCIENTIFICALLY.

One hundred seventy-two people at
tended the weed control excursions
held in Latah County during the past
week under the auspices of the coun-
ty farm bureau. Excursions were held
in eight communities. The objects
of these meetings were to make all
who attended familiar with noxious
weeds of their community and of La
tab County; to study control methods
of these weeds; and to create great
or interest in the control of noxious
weeds. In instances where some of
the noxious weeds of the county were
not growing in a community, speci-
mems were taken in for Identification
and study.
B. F. Sheehan, State Pure Seed
Commissioner, and Field Agronomist
of the Extension Division of the Uni
versity of Idaho, assisted County
Agent O. S. Fletcher and the local
weed control committeeman in con-
ducting these excursions. Prof. R. K.
Bennett, head of the agronomy de-
partment of the University of Idaho,
substituted for Mr. Sheehan on Mon
day.
Following the excursions, Mr.. Shee-
han prepared the following sugges-
tions in regard to the control of
weeds in Latah County.
Weed Pointers for Latah County
A week of weed excursions in La
tab County has shown that there are
several noxious weeds gaining
strong foothold on many farms over
the county. Chief among these are
the Canadian Thistle, Wild Morning
Glory, quack grass. perennial milk
weed. fan weed, and Jim Hill mus
tard. i
For the proper control Of these
weeds it is, of course, first necessary
to appreciate their seriousness. There
are many farms in the west where
some one or two of these weeds have
not only made profitable farming diff I
ficult, but have caused land values to
recede greatly. Control measures
have been demonstrated, but they
have succeeded only after painstaking
and untiring work on the part of the
individual doing the work.
Probably 80 per cent OF the serious
weeds appearing on many Latah {
County farms have been introduced in
grass seed purchased. Dissemination
has resulted from threshing machines
IN many instances. In the case of the
perennial plants, such as Canada
Thistle and wild Morning Glory, one
,an find where heavy infestation of
,he farm has resulted from carrying
many of the underground root stocks
rom place to place by farm ma
,hinery. Thistles happened before
he proper precautions were taken to
.onfine and eradicate the weeds.
With the weed problem, it is first
necessary to eliminate the possibility
# buying grass seed in which seed of
loxious weed seeds may be present.
Buy only high grade, tested seeds.
Beware of cheap seed. Low priced
eed usually means low quality. When
n doubt as to quality, seed sample
O your state seed testing laboratory
O make sure of what you are getting.
In the eradication of the perennial
,lants, such as wild morning glory or |
,anada thistle, realize at the outset
hat it going to be no small job. Also I
emember that these plants propo-
ate by their underground root stocks !
7hich enable them to live and repro ;
uce without seed production. Con-
inc the infested area and do not try
. farm it. A single plowing and :
iscing every year only invigorates t
IS growth. Plan to start after the +
atch when the plants are most sus- L
eptible. This is usually just before
1ey are ready to mature seed and it :
at this time when one can expect o
1e dryest and hottest weather, which o
ill make the work much more ef-
,ctive.
Flowing just deep enough to turn
le major portion of the underground O
,oting system to the surface is ad- h
sable. This depth Nj large meas 81
re depends upon weeds and the char a
,ter of the SOIL After this has been Al
,ne, good narrowing to tear the ct
,ots loose will expose them to the m
1t sun and many will be killed. IL
Cultivation should be practiced at IL
equent intervals. Never allow any T
ant growth to appear. BY such tn
'actice the roofing system will even al