THE SPREAD OF NOXIOUS WEEDS'. 



In spite of the progress that agriculture is making in Ontario, a 

 number of very bad weeds are steadily, and in some instances rapidly, 

 spreading over the farms of the Province. This is due to various causes, 

 chief among which are the following : — 



i. The neglect of the great majority of farmers to make themselves 

 acquainted with the appearance and habit of growth of the worst weeds 

 in the Province, in order that they may attack and exterminate them 

 when they first appear upon their farms. It is a comparatively easy task 

 to root out and destroy a few bad weeds in a field, but it is an extremely 

 difficult, tedious, and costly undertaking to attempt to clean a field which 

 has become over-run with a creeping perennial, such as Couch Grass or 

 Canada Thistle. 



2. The failure to cut the weeds on the road sides, along the railways, 

 in neglected fields, and in fence corners before they mature and distribute 

 their millions of seeds far and wide. 



3. That far too much impure clover, hay, and grain seed is sown, 

 either through ignorance, carelessness, or false economy. It would not 

 be an exaggeration to say that seventy-five per cent, of the clover and 

 timothy seed sown in the Province contains in various amounts from one 

 to a dozen different kinds of weed seeds. 



4. That many new weeds are being brought into the Province as 

 seeds in screenings from the elevators in the West. These screenings are 

 ground in Ontario mills, mixed with corn, barley or oats and sold for 

 feed as mixed chop. Many of the weed seeds are not crushed in grinding 

 and thus find their way on to Ontario farms. 



OBJECTS OF THE BULLETIN. 



1. To give as much information as possible about the Perennial Sow 

 Thistle with the hope of aiding all who have to contend against this most 

 serious pest. 



2. To call attention to and describe six other weeds which are gain- 

 ing ground in Ontario. Some of these have but recently been introduced ; 

 others have been in the Province for some years ; but more information 

 is required about all of them, judging by the numerous enquiries received 

 concerning them. 



3. To give as much definite information as possible about the best 

 methods of eradicating each of these pests. 



4. To call attention to the necessity for united action upon the part of 

 all engaged in farming in order that the Perennial Sow Thistle may be 

 held in check. 



