Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1921-06-30
WE PAY HEAVY TAX
YEARLY TO WEEDS
They Cut Down Yields, Cause
Extra Work and Lower
Price of Land.

| ficient weed control. Immense areas
are infested with weeds to an extent
that makes it very advisable to carry
| them.
For many years those interested in
permanent agriculture have consid-
cred the menace of weeds and have
issued warnings against them. This
early work dealt almost wholly with
preventive measures, largely along
the line Of seed inspection to insure
clean seed.
Many owners of virgin soils have
| doubted if weeds could ever become
seriously troublesome. The fears of
the more fOresighted, however, have
been realized, and there are now
many farms in this country which
have been abandoned because the
weeds have multiplied and spread so
rapidly that the owners have become
discouraged and given up in despair.
Noxious weeds are spreading at a
rate which has alarmed those who
are acquainted with the seriousness
of the situation. There are many
farms where % per cent of the crop
producing capacity has been de-
strOyed by weeds. There is a great
necessity of some concerted action
for weed control and eradication with
respect to two Of the most widespread
and serious weed pests.
Some Worse Than Others.
While there are many weeds which
are proving troublesome on farms,
there are two, according to A. L..
Stone, chief weed inspector of the
state, which are prominently nox-
iouS, particularly in Wisconsin and
the other north central states. These
are quack grass and Canada thistleS.
These weeds are extremely difficult to
eradicate because of their peculiar
nature and habits.
Wild mustard has also become a
very serious pest in the grain fields
of many states, and in some sections
is getting beyond the control of farm
ers using ordinary methods of eradi-
cation. Land values have deteriorated
where the fields have become thickly
seeded to mustard. Considerable eff
fort has been expended by farmers
in pulling the mustard plants when in
full bloom at a time when the weed
could be easily recognized in the
grain fields, but when fields become
badly infested this was a laborious
task, and often was done at the ex-
pense of One-half or more Of the
crop.
Other weeds which are especially
obnoxious are the SOW thistles, star
thistle, English plantain, ox-eye daisy,
toad flax, dodder and velvet leaf.
Must Fight Quack Grass.
R. A. Moore, agronomist, and his
associates at the University of Wis
perennial plant living from year to
year unless prevented by some I'M
usual circumstances. 1t reprOduces
itself by means of seed and by means
of the roOtstocks. 1t is the roOtstock
which gives the plant it's nOxious
character, as this must be killed to
eradicate it and it possesses a great
deal of vitality. At each joint new
roots are thrown out and at many Of
them new stems start. In this way
the grass spreads rapidly and a piece
of the rootstOck with one of these
joints on it will produce a new plant,
although it may not be over One-half
inch long.
"The whole plant grows rapidly and
ripens it's seed usually in July, and
where growing in meadows, may be
gathered in the hay, whence it gets
into the manure to be scattered broad
cast over the farm. If growing in
grain it will be harvested and threshed
with the grain, and if the grain is
not graded with extreme care some
of the quack grass will be sown on
the fields the next year.
Canada ThistIes Menace Farming.
Like quack grass the Canada
thistle is a perennial plant. In height
it ranges from one to three feet, de-
pending on conditions. Unlike quack
grass it has no roOtstOcks, but is
possessed of true roots, the parts of
which are capable of producing plants
When undisturbed by cultivation the
roots are apt to lie near the surface.
but go deeper in cultivated soil and,
where it is particularly loose and
porous, may be found at a depth OF
three feet
Canada thistles seldom bear seed
in fields that are cultivated annually,
but in those fields that are seeded
down to clover or grasses, the seed
Is often produced abundantly the year
after seeding The increase of these
pests, however, is due largely to the
roots which spread out rapidly in all
directions and are transplanted in
widely different portions of the farm
by the pillow, drag and cultivator.
"Many methods have been devised
and advocated for the eradication OF
uuack grass and Canada thistles. The
success of any method depends very
Io.ooIr .1nnn coil and uyoofhnr o0n-