Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-07-16
CROP LOSS
FROM WEEDS
EQUALS 25%o


is not really considered as it should
De. In some sections of Grant county
production is hampered by weeds of
all kinds. This amounts to consider
able toward the payment of a great
deal of interest, and in many cases a
good share of the principal of some
Of our farm loans.
Two Weed Classes Affect Production
We have two classes of weeds that
affect crop production. One is the
common weed, under which class are
the ragweed, foxtail, pigweed and
others. These weeds in the common
class are weeds that produce seeds
each year and last only that year
IN other words we call them annual
plants. Then we have another class
such as quackgrass, Canada thistle,
oxeye daisies and others. These not
only reproduce themselves by seeds
the first year but they live more than
one year and in many cases have
underground root stems that send out
new plants each year.
A Discussion OF the State Weed Law
In the state of Wisconsin, as is true
N other states, we have certain weed
laws. These laws are written and are
expected to be carried out, but in
tally on rented land. The weeds are
allowed to grow, reproduce Themselves
and damage the entire community.
When Weeds are Allowed to Go Wild
The writer knows of several cases
where the Canada thistles have been
allowed to go to seed in the past and
the result is that farmers in the two
townships adjoining have discovered
small patches of Canada thiStles on
their land. This does not seem just.
If it was a matter of just letting the
weeds grow on our own farm, and
damaging the value of our own land
and crop production only, it would not
seem so bad, but in the case of the
Canada thistle, which nature has CIV
en- a means whereby the seed may be
carried a considerable distance by the
help of the wind it is hardly fair.
Each township has one or two weed
commissioners, but every farmer in
the township should likewise consider
himself q weed commissioner. 1t is
not doing your neighbOr an injustice
to report to the proper authority that
he has patches of nOXious weeds that
are not being taken care of. In fact,
you are protecting yourself against
portion of this $3.50 loss from weeds.
Weed laws are pretty stringent when
they are enforced. The enforcement
of the law and the abiding by the law
are what go to make good Americans.
Anyone would hate to be considered
un-American, yet anyone allowing
weeds to grow and reproduce them
selves in seed, knowing they are nox-
ious weeds, is breaking the laws of
the state, is therefore, not as good an
American as he would like to count
himself If you don't visit to eradicate
the weeds by stringent efforts the
least you can do is to see that none of
the weeds go to seed.
Where Weeds Have Ruined Farms
want to call the attention to the
people in the townships of POtoSi and
Paris in particular to the Importance
of seeing that the oXeye daisies in
these townships be moved at once.
They are pretty to look at, yet if you
were to travel in the state of New
York and see some of the abandoned
farms in that section that are produ-
cling nothing but oxeye daisies. you
would not think they were so beaut-
iful. These weeds must be cut at
once and burned in order to prevent
the spread of the Xeye daisy The
same holds true with all other weeds
as we'll.
The Menace Of Quack Grass
Another point | would like to men
ton at this time is the Importance of
farmers owning land along a right
of way, taking care of quack grass IN
the road and adjacent Some OF these
roads are completely covered by the
grass which will soon be gong TO
seed To the center of each road the
land is owned by the farmer there
i CHI ha eli
their land. With this in mind on all
the roadsides the weeds should be
moved, especially where the quack
grass is prevalent.
Matter of Great Concern to All
Do not think that this does not af-
feet YOU. because / do not believe
there is a farm in Grant county that
il not affected or is not liable to be
affected by the spread of noXlous
weeds. Courts rule constantly that
ignorance of the law excuses no man.
Neglect has ruined many. Let us 90
our part to keep down the spread OF
noXious weeds.
SneciaI Juvenile Feature at Go. Fair
The Wisconsin Livestock Breeders
association is giving prizes for the
first. second and third best Snowman
i'm the boys and girls club department
at the Grant county fair in Lancaster
this fall
# there are to be 80 calves shown
nv the boys and girls who own them
the following prizes will be awarded
bv competent judges, based on show
manship displayed by the boys and
First prize. showman's kit; second
nrize. show halter; third prize, med
al of honor.