Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-04-19
Constant Vigilance viii
Keep Weed Pests Down
WEED CONTROL is IMPORTANT
PART IN THE WISCONSIN
FARMERS WORK

One of the heaviest taxes to which
the Wisconsin farmer is subjected is
that which is imposed upon him by
weeds. Very often the farmers most
valuable acres are most infested and
the land which is naturally suited to
produce abundantly may become the
least productive on the farm. The
great number of pests with which the
farmer must contend makes it neces-
sary that the best methods available
be applied in combating the invaders
that have already established themsel-
yes in the fields as well as in keeping
down those which have not yet had
the opportunity to spread.
Austrian Field cress
Several years ago a plant, member
of the mustard family, Austrian Field
Cress (Radicula Palustris), an alien
enemy of European origin, appeared
in one of the fields Of the University
Farm. Methods were Immediately used
to exterminate the invader, but recent
ly the plant again appeared i'll several
areas. After several unsuccessful at
tempts had been made to rid the field
of this infestation by means of tar
paper and intensive cultivation of the
smaller patches in which it appeared
it was decided to summer fallow the
entire field in order to insure the com
plete eradication of the pest This
treatment seems to have been very
effective, and apparently the weed has
been eradicated.
The extreme persistence and vital
ity of the cress plants make drastic
measures for their destruction neces-
sary. The vitality of the roots is amaz
ing In October 1919 a piece of root
six inches long was put into quart
jar of water in the laboratory 1t still
bore green leaves in October 1921 haY-
ing lived in the water for two years.
The roots in the soil seem to possess
an even greater degree of vitality and
sometimes new plants appear where
none had been for two years.
Canada ThistIes
Areas of Canada .histles again ap
pearing on a field from which this
weed had been eradicated some years
ago, were treated by fall blowing fol
lowed by a year of cultivation, in
which the field was plowed twice and
cultivated four times during the sum
mer This plan of attack seems to be
a successful one, inasmuch as after
the summer fallow the eradication Of
the thistle is apparently assured.
Quack Grass
The lower portion in one of the
fields of the University Farm became
so badly infested with quack grass
that the affected area covered approx
imately 10 acres. The worst infesta-
ton seemed to appear in a portion of
the field which was low and flat. To
overcome this weed enroachment the
entire field was planted to Murdoch
OOAA4y anu rI1tCA IAAO NAOP w clO 1c4 CcC-
ed in 1921, it was fall plowed. In the
spring of 1922 the infested area was
dug up with deep-digging cultivator,
using tractor power, and then follow
ed by three civilizations with a spring
tooth harrow during the spring and
summer Of 1922. Very little quacl
grass could be seen by the last week
of June, and on June % and 20 the
field was seeded to Sudan grass at
the rate of rs pounds per acre. The
crop was very heavy when grown to
maturity and cut for seed, and this
heavy smother crop seems to have
successfully eradicated the quack
grass infestation.
White Campion
A bad infestation Of White Campion
Nychnisalba) has appeared in one of
the fields on the Hill farm. This plant
is biennial, and its seeds precede in
ripening those of many cultivated
crops, and when buried in the soil are
very long lived. In many sections of
the state this weed is proving itself
extremely troublesome in grass lands
TIL method of attack employed against
this pest is the gathering and burning
of all the vegetation on the ground,
followed by cultivated crops, such as
corn and potatoes, which is apparently
eliminating this biennial plant.