49 
Puants anp Man: WEEDS AND DISEASES. 
By Rosert HESSLER. 
Indiana may be divided topographically into three parts—the southern 
hilly, the central rolling, and the northern part flat and wet. With the 
exception of the northwest, the whole State was originally densely covered 
with forests. The wet lands are being drained more and more and the land 
brought under cultivation. ‘The soil is rich and produces heavy crops. It is 
surprising to learn that along the Kankakee first year crops require prac- 
tically no cultivation, because there are no weeds. The next year a few 
come in; many are found by the third year, and after that farming becomes 
mainly a contest against weeds. 
Bringing the land, whether densely forested or marshy prairie, into 
cultivation means displacing the native flora by foreign plants. These 
latter are of two kinds—those brought in purposely, cultivated plants of all 
kinds, and those brought in unintentionally, mainly weeds. Today most of 
our worst weeds are foreigners that have come from all parts of the world. 
especially from Europe, where for ages weeds have been fought and where 
certain ones have developed resisting qualities. Weeds are introduced in 
imported seed and also largely in hay and straw, used in crating. In waste 
places about cities where trash is thrown one may expect to find “new 
weeds.” Some are also brought in by the railroads, the seed lodging on 
ears and falling off. Some are brought down by rivers. 
When man cuts down the forests, plows the prairies and drains the 
” 
marshes, he is disturbing the “balance of nature,” and animals and plants 
move about to find new, suitable homes. Animals, of course, move about 
very freely ; if their homes are destroyed they seek new ones; every botanist 
knows that plants do the same. That is, seed is carried about and germi- 
mates here and there; if conditions are favorable the plant may thrive, 
become re-established. If conditions are unfavorable it may perish very 
quickly, or it may persist for a year or two. Thus at present some of our 
native plants may be seen in localities where they had not been seen the 
year before or where they had not been seen for many years. I have a 
number of notes of such “moving about” plants. 
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