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other plants, are constantly, during the growing season, pumping water 
from the earth. Much of this ultimately goes off into the air, and, as far 
as crops are concerned, is wasted. For the formation of every pound of 
dry matter in a corn crop, there are required 300 pounds of water. Often- 
times crops suffer seriously for moisture owing to the presence of weeds, 
and as a result these crops are much reduced in quantity and value. 
2. Weeds choke out the desired crops. No field can produce excellent 
crops of corn or wheat and a heavy growth of weeds at the same time. 
This, in agriculture, is as impossible as in physics it is impossible for two 
bodies to occupy the same space at the same time. When a heavy growth 
of weeds is present, corn, vegetables or any other crop. are likely to be 
weak and spindling. 
3. Weeds furnish a refuge and shelter for the protection and propa- 
gution of insect and fungus enemies of crops. Fruit, vegetables and field 
crops have very many more such enemies than is ordinarily realized. The 
keeping down of weeds and the removal or plowing under of refuse mate- 
rial, will in no small measure reduce insect and fungus enemies of crops. 
4. The presence of weeds in considerable quantity makes every opera- 
tion on the farm—plowiug, harrowing, seeding, cultivating, harvesting, 
marketing, etc., more expensive. Further, on a farm where weeds are not 
inteiligently and continuously combated, machinery is more short-lived, and 
repairs are needed oftener. 
5. Property overrun with weeds is less attractive, and will not sell 
as high as property giving indication of thrift, intelligence, and successful 
management. Moreover, weeds are an offense to one’s esthetic taste, 
and an eyesore to all passers-by. 
In view of these facts, it is very plain that weeds are distinctly robbers, 
and should be controlled and, where possible, eradicated. To deal effect- 
ively with weeds, it is necessary to know something of their characteristics, 
their life history—are they annual or biennial or perennial? How do they 
propagate? When do they flower? When do they seed? Do they produce 
large quantities of seed? Does this seed retain its vitality in the soil for 
a long time or but a short time? To facilitate the gaining of information 
on weeds from reading, lectures or conversation it is a decided advantage 
to know common weeds at least by their commonly accepted names. In 
these later days it is not difficult to obtain a working knowledge of our 
Indiana weeds. Books and bulletins covering the subject are available. 
