94 PROTECTION OF PLANTS, 1915-16 



had better be ground, for horses or cattle. They are a very valuable poultry 

 food." (3, 40). 



So much for seed grain. Just as important is it that similar attention 

 be paid to sowing only clean seed of grass, clovers and other fodder or pas- 

 ture plants. Pure seed can be purchased in small quantities from the 

 experimental farms, from farmers who are specializing in seed growing, 

 from seed centres and farmers' clubs, and from seed merchants who are 

 careful in securing good stock. The names of reliable dealers may be 

 secured from the Cereal and Horticulture Departments at La Trappe, 

 Macdonald College, and other experimental farms. 



Further losses from weeds are caused by burs, cockle-burs and tick- 

 seeds found in fleeces. The annual wool clip loses value to the producer, 

 the shearer loses time and the grader has to grade the wool lower. Other 

 losses are unnecessary impoverishment of the soil. \\'eeds draw on the 

 mineral plant food and nitrogen of the soil, they rob it of moisture, and cer- 

 tainly reduce its market value. Weeds crowd out the crop, or choke it and 

 drag it down. Some weeds are real parasites. Dodder kills clover, al- 

 falfa, and flax. Dwarf mistletoe causes witches' brooms on balsam-fir, 

 and broom-rape lives on clover and tomato. 



Still more losses are the result of fungus diseases carried over 

 and harbored by weeds. The fragrant wild plum becomes a menace when 

 it is the host of black knot, plum pockets, or brown rot. Wild mustard may 

 be infested with club root (finger and toe) disease. Other weeds harbor 

 injurious insects. 



Control of Weeds 



Dominion and Provincial Laws and Organization 



The Dominion and the Provinces share in the controlling of weeds. 

 While the laws respecting weeds in the older provinces have been allowed 

 to lapse, or were never enforced, a new spirit is showing itself. Encourage- 

 ment of agricultural education by the Dominion and the Provinces is 

 having its effect in this regard, though no doubt the pressure of economic 

 necessity is the greatest factor. Public sentiment, plus the notable interest 

 taken by the public carriers, are seeing to it that more careful cropping 

 and the sale of weed-free forage and products are enforced. 



The Dominion "Seed Control Act, 1913" is administered by the Seed 

 Branch by means of inspection, and, after due warning, occasional prosecu- 

 tions for adulterating and misrepresenting seed. The effect is that a greater 



