The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1922-07-21
BULL, HASSESSION
WITH INSPECTORS
DRASTIC STEPS ARE TAKEN
FOR ERADICATION
STATUTE IS EXPLAINED
Power of Those Officials Who
Are Looking After Nox-
ious Growths

Eradication of the perennial SOW
thistle is said to be the most i'm
portant duty that a weed inspector
can perform according to the dis
cussion held on the subject of weed
held at the office OF
County Auditor c. l. Kennedy Sat
urday afternoon under the direction
OF c. P. Bull, state weed inspector,
who presided at the meeting and
led all the investigations that were
made. The discovery OF the dread
weed in Blue Earth county, con-
sidered immune from that plant,
was brought to the notice OF the
Saturday meeting by Evan ]. Davis
of Lake, Crystal, district inspector,
and he reported that there is a
patch Of the growth just west OF
the town OF Lake Crystal. The weed
has been known to take entire
farms after start has been gained
and drastic steps are to be taken
Immediately for eradication
Thirty weed inspectors from Blue
Earth and adjacent counties were
In attendance and many of these
brought to the meeting samples Of
weeds found although the number
brought was not as large as expect
the state maintains service for i'm
mediate Identification of all plants
sent in by local field men
Mr.. Bull Explains Law.
During the morning session Mr..
Bull explained the law which &C
counts for the weed inspection pro-
ject. The law was passed at the
legislature two years ago and pro-
vides four local men to the county
with a district and state head over
these. Legal procedure for the local
worker was outlined by the leader.
When An inspector finds a farm in
tested with any weed of a noxious
character, the inspector shall give
notice to the farmer that such weeds
exist. In case no action is taken
within a reasonable time a second
notice shall be given and following
that notice the weed inspector is
empowered to send man to the
weeds and for this work the farm
will be taxed the cost of cutting in
addition 10 SO which will be as
sesed rs a fine against the land to
be paid with the regular taxes as
sessed against the land. The law is
proving practical, according to those
who have investigated, because
there is a penalty for failure to
comply with the orders of the in
spectors, although farmers in Blue
Earth and adjacent counties are
said to be ready and willing to era
dictate any noxious weed as soon as
1t is discovered on their land.
Weeds Prevalent Here: =.
Reports from inspectors in this
section show that the weeds most
common are the Canada thistle
quack grass. yellow dock, tumbling
mustard. Russian thistle, bull thistle
! and the SOW thistle. Burberry was
/ discussed at length by Mr.. Bull. A
! survey of Blue Earth county for
7 the west half has been completed
and shows that there are patches
of that weed in almost every town
/ shin in that part of the county. The
survey for the east half Of Blue
/ Earth has not yet been completed.
Mr.. Bull has a thorough know
ledge of his subject and for many
years was a worker in the agricul
tural department of the University
) of Minnesota and a specialist IN
seeds.
! Another weed which was identi-
: fed and discussed by-Mr. Bull was
the alfalaria, a tenacious weed thai
spreads from either the seed or the
underground roots. There has beer
none of this growth found to date
in this county but in some parts Of
the state it is said to be quite pre-,
valent.
| Townships Cover Roads.
Mr.. Bull explained that the duty
of keeping the roads, either county
or state. clean from weed growths
/ is entirely up to the township boards
under the law and the state ane
road. Town boards will be notified
work of cutting plants along the
county are not charged with the
by the local inspectors where the
occasion demands.
Mr.. Bull completed his work here
Saturday afternoon. He is now max
ing a tour of the state meeting with
ali district inspectors and the mer
under them. The work was begun
| last year but it was not until this
year that any considerable progress:
was made and at this time Mr.. Bull
! is enthusiastic over the prospects
as to control of weeds which are
said to be costing the farmers hun
dreds of thousands of dollars annu'
ally. ~.
tended the meeting were Rice, Sib
| lev. Nicollet, Watonwan, Martin
Blue Earth, Faribault, Waseca
Steele and Brown.
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