Belt Valley times. [volume] (Armington, Mont.) 1894-1977, 1922-08-17
Weeder Proving Pro-
fitabIe on Highland Farms


show definite results. according 10 NJ
L. Wilson, farm management demon
strator in charge. With the careful
survey being made of tilrage nipple
ments, the Montana extension service
has gathered some interesting data
. on the experience that various farm
ers have had with various tillage i'm
plements.
In general, the northern Montana
farmers cultivate with three objects
in mind; seed bed preparation. moist
ure conservation, weed control and
control Of soil blowing. Discussion
of the tillage implements used in
northern Montana will, therefore. be
a discussion with these four main
points in view. Because conherva,
tion Of moisture takes first rank in the
minds Of most farmers, implements
which will destroy weeds and maintain
the mulch necessary to hold the moist
ure in the ground are implements
most favored. Because of the peculiar
demands of tillage in northern Mon
tana, many Of the Implements used
are home made and hence have no ok
act type on the market.
Among the home made implements
commonly found are the sled knife
weeder or "slicker," the non-clog LARGE
knife or small knife weeders. and
gooseneck slicker. Bar weeders are
coming into favor fast, with some
~favoring the single bar weeder. Others
the double bar weeder.
The sled knife weeder is generally
a sled-like affair made of about 2x6 /:
lumber with the blade set below the I:
bottom of the runners so that it will /:
travel through the ground about :
three inches under the surface. The :
blade will eat practically all weeds and :
will help in maintaining the clod mulch :
so much desired on most of the farms. :
The blade can be made of 3-8 by 2 Sd :
inch steel or a-read grader blade may :
be utilized. This weeder is satisfac- :
tory on heavy and medium soils, where :
trash and weeds were well turned UNI .
der in blowing. They are liable to 9
clog badly on soil full of rubbish of :
stubble. :
To prevent this ciogging a number :
of changes have been found from the :
knife or blade type. Many use =
a number of slanting Knives instead of =
the one bar, the knives so placed at an =
that trash is allowed to drift :
back while the weeds which are an =
by roots are cut away. This -
sort of weeder is often made in sec -
ions, which can be connected the same :
IS a spike tooth harrow. =
There are many farmers using the -
yooseneck slicker though the state =
rops and soil specialist of the Mon 60
ana extension sedvice sees little adj =
over the knife weeder. The =
.ooseneck slicker uses the same prin- =
iple as the knife weeder, but is in -
ended for more difficult land condi- -
ions, where there is grass or perennial n
The driver rides on a tailboard -
,hich, by shifting of his position, is
lade to cut to the desired depth.
Rod weeders, Mr.. Ogaard and Mr.. ",
wilson find, are coming into favor .
asst. Where they can be used the
.tationery rod weeder leaves a better
condition than does the slicker
r knife weeder. The rods are used at
ne bottom Of a sled much the same
s the knives are used. The pressure =,
T the soil and sled on the rods serves -"
, pull out the most of the weeds and nj,
pulverizing of the soil. 1t is y"
enerally reported by farmers that 90,
lore power is required for this weed =
Una. ~ eloks naoie leauiiy, anaztnaef bal
,ils. 1t should not be used on wet ho,
nd, they all agree.
The knife and rod weeders are all La
\ the same principle, the knife and ray
I'd weeder both employing some -
,rm of sled, and the slicker usually Cor
7 the gooseneck type and working s
lie ground under direct pull on the cas-
ar. Go
The bar weeder is another type mi
ten found. Ogaard reports that a {
whom he found using. the Mo
eeder called it the dry land safety NH
1t is a bar, turned at the end and
right angles, the turned ends con- s
scting with a timber which supports era
e tail piece. The bar may be regu- ron
ted to different depths of work. The Hool
achine can be made from seven to Ma
ght feet in width and with about two Ru,
ct clearance. sio,
North Of Rudyard, Mr.. Wilson found Der
good implement on the farm of Mr.. and
This implement was effici- pub
t in the removal of dry thistles q
ON the field before blowing. A c
zee of heavy timber, Axe, about IS Der
ct long, had spikes set in every 9 for,
ches. These spikes were pieces of Nor,
fiatened TO a point and pro- Leh
citing Ia inches below the timber. Eth
tail piece is fastened to the center C
use in dumping the machine. II is Der
ed as a rake, LEANING the thistles lant
wonderful fasnion. IL pulls them Ben
10 wfndrows and -theh-may- be used and
bunch the windrows. These lunches
e then burned. SETTER rakes and
rms 10 acres per day with this tool.
T
nA