Farm Weeds of Nortli Carolina and Methods for their Control 



BY 



James L. Hurgkss and Clarence H. Waldson 



IMKODrCiOKV 



Any plant found erroAviiifj; wIiltl' thu fanner does not want it may be 

 properly called a weed. For example, wheat is u weed when found 

 scattered through the oat fields. Corn is a weed when found in the 

 cotton field, etc. IJut, as a rule, farm weeds are not economic plants 

 and have little or no value, from the farmer's point of view, regardless 

 of whore they are found growing. 



Some weeds complete their growth in one year, and are, for this reason, 

 called annuals: others require two seasons to complete their growth, and 

 are called biennials; still others come from the root each year, or are not 

 killed down to the ground by frosts at the end of the season, and are 

 called perennials. Or, to put it differently, annual plants come from 

 the seed each year; biennials every two years; while perennial plants 

 come from the seed but once through a long series of years, as the oaks 

 and other familiar trees. 



GENFRAI. PRINCIPLES OF WEED CONTROL 



1. All future generations of w^eeds that come from seed can be cut off 

 liy preventing the parent plants from maturing seeds. 



2. All weeds that come from the root, or root stock, each year may 

 I'vcntually be killed by not allowing them to produce loaves. 



3. Frequent tillage of cultivated fields, and frequent mowing of mead- 

 ows and clipping of pastures arc excellent means of weed eradication. 



4. Sometimes fields must be cleared of growths the stumps of which 

 sprout profusely for several succeeding seasons. The best time to clear 

 such lands is when the trees are in full leaf and just when the growth 

 I if the present season has stopped. The roots have then given up to the 

 spring growth most of the food supply stored in them the previous 

 summer and have not had time to accumulate a new supply for the 

 growth of the following spring. Jh/ cl"arin(j at this critical time, little 

 nr no sprouting from most trees and shrubs need be expected. Of course, 

 the liftinc: of the stumps will prevent sprouting, but it is not always 

 practicable to do this. 



.'). Every one is familiar with the practice of clearing land of weeds 

 and chaparral by grazing it with cattle, sheep, and particularly goats. 



