218 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



corn and now the land is practically free from all foul weeds." Many 

 reports that fall plowing is inefficient, that mowing early is inefficient, 

 that mowing before seeding is inefficient, salt brine is inefficient; that 

 pasturing with sheep is practically successful; covering quack grass with 

 straw is partially successful; smothering with tar paper is successful. 

 Ck)cklebur can be exterminated by not allowing to seed for three years; 

 wild oats after kept down for two years will be destroyed; salt is recom- 

 mended for Canada thistle, and especially if cattle are permitted to feed 

 in the field. Here are some suggestions for quack grass: Take up and 

 dry on fence; cover with straw; plow continually; use millet; use buck- 

 wheat; plant to corn; summer fallow. 



It appears from the above investigation that there are no uniform 

 methods for controlling the weed problem in the state, either as to the 

 weeds found on private premises, roadsides, or along railroads, and that 

 all efforts made to destroy the weeds along highways are more or less 

 spasmodic. With the increase in the price of land it will become more 

 and more imperative that the farmers must till better and the weeds 

 along the highways must be kept down, in order to prevent seedage in 

 the farms adjacent. A few dollars will exterminate a weed when first 

 observed but when it has got a stand it will take hundreds of dollars 

 or even thousands of dollars to exterminate the same. 



I was told at Clinton at the meeting of the road supervisors that 

 one farmer spent over one thousand dollars on a farm in Minnesota in 

 exterminating quack grass. It is certainly true that the presence of 

 weeds lessens the value of land. During the past summer I have received 

 several communications from intended purchasers of land, who desired 

 to know the value of land where Canada thistle and quack grass occurred, 

 or if when present these weeds could be exterminated, and how to ex- 

 terminate them and would I advise buying land where quack grass oc- 

 curred in abundance. 



I beg leave to make this preliminary report at this time, and hope 

 to continue the investigation and report further at some other time. 



C. F. CURTISS, 



Bv L H. Pammel. 



The board created a new department of the Fair, to be known 

 as the Department of Live Stock Sanitation, with the state veter- 

 inarian, Dr. P. 0. Koto, superintendent in charge. 



On motion of Mr. Johnston, August 20th to 28th inclusive, were 

 fixed as the dates for the Iowa State Fair and Exposition of 1908. 



The committee on resolutions reported as follows. 



RESOLUTION OF RESIGNATION OF HON. J. R. SAGE. 



Whereas, The Iowa State Board of Agriculture, in annual meeting 

 assembled, has been advised of the resignation of Hon. J. R. Sage, who 

 for years has most efficiently and with much credit to himself and this 

 board, who has annually recommended his appointment, performed the 

 duties of director of the Iowa Weather and Crop Bureau; therefore, be it 



