242 NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [6:8-Nov.,1910 



out easily. A weed hook, a sort of small rake, is sometimes em- 

 ployed for this purpose. Hand weeding is the only method pos- 

 sible in crops sown broadcast, and in working in the crops sown 

 in rows or drills. 



Isolated weeds in lawns, etc., may be removed by using a 

 knife or spud (a small, slender spade), and cutting the roots. 

 Plantain, burdock, sweet clover, dandelion and other tap-rooted 

 weeds are best treated in this way. 



The same thing is done when weeds are hoed. A hoe should 

 be sharpened so as to cut the roots. Hoeing is best done on a 

 warm, sunny day, for then the weeds will dry and be killed before 

 they will take root again, which some, like purslane and quack- 

 grass, especially, are apt to do in wet weather. It is a good plan 

 to rake up the weeds immediately after hoeing, to let them dry. 



Machine cultivators work on the hoe plan. They are used 

 in larger fields for working between the rows of the crops, as in 

 potato and corn fields, truck gardens and nurseries. 



Weeding, either by pulling or hoeing, should be done early, 

 a soon as the real crop is large enough to be distinguished from 

 the weeds. If left too late, the roots of the crop are injured by 

 pulling up the long weed roots or by the disturbance with the 

 hoe. Also crops grown too long among the weeds become spind- 

 ling and pale, and are apt to suffer from the sun when the weeds 

 are removed. 



Poisons have been applied to exterminate weeds. This, of 

 course, is apt to injure the crop. A common method of treating 

 dandelion, plantain, thistle, etc., is to pour a drop or so of some 

 corrosive acid, gasoline, kerosene, or other chemical on the crown 

 of the plant. Common salt, copper sulphate and even arsenical 

 salts are used on weeds. In tennis courts and other places where 

 no crop is raised such poisoning is permissible and very effective. 

 The tracks of trolley and steam railroads and ordinary roads are 

 often sprayed with crude oil or other preparations, both to lay 

 the dust and to kill the weeds. 



The method of treatment of weeds depends upon their life 

 habits. Many weeds, such as foxtail, pigeon grass, pigweed, 

 purslane, ragweed, etc., are annuals. By effectually keeping them 

 down before they go to seed they will be got rid of. Farmers 

 sometimes plow their hay fields early to prevent the seeding of 

 the early maturing weeds. The grass continues to grow, and in 

 haying time the farmer gets another chance at the second growth 



