1752 Report of Farmers' Institutes 



Second, when seeds are already introduced thev can be most 

 cheaply and effectively destroyed by cultivating the soil just after 

 they have germinated. This of course applies especially in case 

 of tilled crops, and where a fallow may be resorted to to ^' clean 

 the land." 



Third, so far as possible, keep the land occupied throughout the 

 entire season by a crop that can be given clean tillage or by a crop 

 making such dense growth that the weeds are smothered. The 

 so-called '' laying by " of fields of corn or potatoes at midsummer 

 gives many weeds an opportunity to produce an abundant crop 

 of seed late in the season. The summer grasses, rag\vee(l, pig- 

 weed and smartweed find their greatest opportunity in this prac- 

 tice. 



Wild mustard is most troublesome in spring-sown grain crops. 

 Thorough tillage with some hand work will prevent its getting 

 the start in cultivated crops. The seeds are oily and will remain 

 alive in the soil for years waiting for a favorable opportunity to 

 germinate. Mustard plants grow well in such crops as oats, 

 barley, or peas, and produce seed in great abundance before the 

 harvesting of the crop. Fortunately a method of destroying 

 mustard by spraying has been discovered. Twelve pounds of 

 copper sulphate or 100 pounds of iron sulphate dissolved in 50 

 gallons of water and sprayed on an acre when the mustard is from 

 three to six inches high will destroy it without permanent injury 

 to cereal crops, peas, or grass and clover seeding. 



Dodder is classed as an annual though it often hibernates on 

 the stem of clover and alfalfa and becomes perennial in effect. 

 Its habits of growth are so peculiar that it requires special treat- 

 ment. Only clovers, alfalfa and flax among agricultural plants 

 are harmfully affected by the dodders, of which there are several 

 species. The dodder seed is usually sown with the alfalfa or 

 clover seed. The young plants twine around the host plants and 

 soon leave the soil, becoming parasitic. Dodder rarely seeds in 

 Xew Voi'k lint it does hibernate on alfalfa and clover stubble. It 

 feeds on the host plants and destroys them in ever-widening 

 circles. 



Do not buy clover or alfalfa seed that is not known to be free 

 from dodder. If small patches of dodder are discovered in the 



