572 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



frequently as possible and where a thick, vigorous stand of alfalfa is 

 secured. An interesting case was brought to notice in the Muskingum 

 bottom land near Marietta, Ohio. Two adjoining fields, both thickly set 

 with bindweed, were seeded the same season, one to timothy and the 

 other to alfalfa. After several years both fields were plowed and the 

 whole planted to corn. It was very apparent where the alfalfa had been 

 by the absence of bindweed, while the other piece of land still contained 

 the weed. 



Alfalfa growing as a method of bindweed eradication is applicable of 

 course, only where it is possible and desirable to grow alfalfa. But where 

 conditions are favorable there is little doubt that two or three years of 

 alfalfa will greatly reduce or sometimes entirely destroy the weed in the 

 most thickly infested fields. By following this crop with a cultivated 

 crop and carefully keeping down the weed growth that still persists the 

 land can be finally cleaned. 



PASTUEING WITH HOGS. 



Hog pasturing as a method of eradicating bindweed is based on the 

 fact that hogs are very fond of the roots and rootstocks of this plant, 

 which taste much like the sweet potato. Hence, if hogs do not have their 

 noses rung or slit they will root to a considerable depth to obtain the 

 underground parts. It is common to see hog pastures which have ob- 

 tained bindweed with the surfaces torn up and rough, showing where the 

 hogs have been at work, even though there is an abundance of forage for 

 them. It is the universal testimony of the best farmers that pasturing 

 with hogs will reduce the prevalence of the weed, although but few have 

 given the plan a thorough trial. This method can be employed in two 

 ways: (1) By turning the hogs on ordinary pasture and (2) by plowing 

 the land and then turning on the hogs. 



The first way probably requires a longer time to accomplish the re- 

 sult than the second. Hogs not only eat the tops closely, but they also 

 root for the underground parts in pasture land. Mr. George Wigg ns, of 

 Lodge, 111., has practiced this method for a number of years with success. 

 He leaves the land in pasture for about three years, with a sufficient num- 

 ber of hogs on it to keep it closely pastured. In the summer of 1908 he 

 showed the writer a field of corn which had been in corn and oats for 

 the past three years, previous to which it had been in hog pasture for 

 three years. Before the pasturing began it was full of bindweed, but 

 there is none to be seen now. Th's field contains 30 acres, and carried 

 about 100 hogs, most of them of the spring brood. Adjoining this field 

 was another field of corn, w^hich had been in hog pasture the preceding 

 three years. Before pasturing there had been a great deal of bindweed in 

 this field, but there is none at present. Another field of 14 acres in clover 

 pasture for the first year was being run with 60 hogs. There was bind- 

 weed scattered all over it, but it was making a poor growth and was be- 

 ing rooted out. In breaking a pasture Mr. Wiggins plows in the fall, 

 leaving the hogs to root for all they can get in the plowed land. In the 



