EIGHTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART V. 217 



I might add to these reports that have been received and gone through 

 with that, take the state as a whole, we find the same general class of 

 weeds along roadsides as are found in the fields, and that in many in- 

 stances the fields become infested with the weeds that are permitted to 

 grow along the roadsides. Thus in Northern Iowa, especially in the two 

 northern tiers of counties, mustard is quite as prevalent along the road- 

 sides as in the fields, and there is abundant opportunity for these weeds 

 to be scattered by the snow and water in the winter and spring. 



In the northern part of the state, east of Kossuth county to the Mis- 

 sissippi river and north along the line of the Chicago Northwestern rail- 

 road, the quack grass is particularly abundant, and seems to be spread- 

 ing at a very rapid rate. Cocklebur is particularly common in the 

 southern half of the state and is spreading northward to a considerable 

 extent. The common horse nettle is spreading rapidly in the southern 

 part of the state, and within fifteen years has spread nearly to the Min- 

 nesota line. Such weeds as ragweed, morning-glory and milkweed are 

 native and common in the state, but cultivation has caused them to spread 

 and become more numerous. 



Such weeds as squirrel-tail grass and bull thistle and foxtail, all 

 native to Europe, have spread over the greater portion of the state of 

 Iowa because they have such excellent means of dispersal. We have 

 had also frequent requests for the methods and means of exterminating 

 tan weed, which is known as Muhlenberg's smartweed. Northern nut grass, 

 too, has been frequently reported as occurring in low grounds. I have 

 had many requests for the identification of droopseed grass or nimble-will, 

 which is generally mistaken for quack grass. This grass is native to 

 the state and spreads by underground stems very much in the manner 

 that quack grass does, except that the roots are shorter and thicker; 

 usually, however, this weed has not given as much trouble in fields as 

 quack grass and morning-glory. 



No one can question for a moment the importance of exterminating 

 these weeds. A few dollars will exterminate a small patch of quack grass 

 of Canadian thistle at this time, but in ten years it will require hundreds 

 of dollars to exterminate the same weeds. Therefore, legislation along 

 this line is urgently needed. 



Judging from the replies that I have received on this matter I should 

 say that very little effort is being made, except mowing, to exterminate 

 the weeds along the roadsides. The following methods for exterminating 

 these weeds were elicited from the replies received: Burning of seed; 

 the prevention of seeding; thorough cultivation; salt and sheep; summer 

 fallow; for the dock to pull when the ground is moist or to dig down 

 with a spade and cut it off; one writer says: "I have found no weed 

 that does not yield to persistent and intelligent warfare against it, except 

 the butterprint; that requires a man to camp in his field three months 

 a year for twenty -five years." Another writer says: "A field of quack 

 grass owned by H. L. Emmert, Sibley, Iowa, was the worst quarter sec- 

 tion in this country. Portions of it he plowed and kept black continually; 

 some was planted to millet and some to buckwheat. A force of men 

 worked the worst places with forks and this year he planted most of 

 the land to corn. A large number of teams were kept cultivating the 



