Weeds 1Y55 



fairly suppressed the daisy, buttercup, plantaiu, dandelion, 

 chicory, golden-rod, and many others. Probably no plant can 

 survive throughout a full season if absolutely prevented from 

 making leaf growth for that period, but in connection vv^itli crop 

 growing it is often impossible to give such thorough cultivation. 

 Much careful, detailed study must be given to the various weed 

 plants to determine just how each can be combated most success- 

 fully. A plant that has just exhausted itself producing a crop 

 of seed is much more easily killed than at other times of the 

 season. For instance, quack grass, which is one of our most per- 

 sistent weeds, will be almost completely destroyed if the following 

 method is used : Allow it to produce a crop of hay, then imme- 

 diately plow the land, summer-fallow for a time, plant to late 

 cabbage, which should be given absolutely clean cuture till the 

 end of the season. A seeding of two bushels of buckwheat to an 

 acre will do nearly the same. 



The same treatment will subdue almost any weed that grows. 

 Canada thistle, horse-radish, and live-for-ever owing to their fleshy 

 roots, a piece of which will act as a set for a new plant, are only 

 multiplied by ordinary tillage. The principles involved in suc- 

 cessfully combating them are : 



1 Begin the fight when the plants are exhausted by seed pro- 

 duction. 



21 Keep them so smothered either by a dense growth or by con- 

 stant cultivation that they have no chance to make leaf growth 

 before winter to restore their weakened vitality. 



3 Late in the season turn up the roots to be acted on by frost. 



4: Put on another smother crop early in the spring. Continue 

 this process till they succumb. 



A bacterial disease is known sometimes to get into fields of 

 live-for-eyer and spread from plant to plant till the pest is re- 

 moved. It is difficult, however, to keep track of places where 

 infected plants may be secured. A study of this disease is now 

 being made. 



Woody perennials are sometimes classed as weed plants. 

 Bushes, briars, etc., are best repressed if cut during August — 

 the period of most rapid growth. 



Poison ivy may be destroyed if sprayed while in full leaf by a 

 solution of two pounds of arsenate of soda in five gallons of water. 



