REPORT OF THE SOCIETY 69 



If the habits of the weeds are studied at all carefully in the field, the pupil 

 will soon determine that some weeds, like lamb's quarters, pigAveed, mustard, 

 ragweed, green foxtail, are*annuals and are not as a rule our worst weeds; some, 

 like wild carrot, wild parsnip, and burdock are biennials; while others, like ox- 

 eye daisy, dandelion, chicory, paint-brush, rib-grass, knap-weed, couch grass, 

 sow-thistle, Canada thistle and field bindweed are perennials. 



The principles of weed control are simple if these three classes are kept in 

 mind. It is a well recognized fact that certain weeds follow certain crops and 

 certain methods of farming. The perennials increase when meadows are left 

 down longer than tvvo years. The annuals are absent from such meadows, but 

 follow cultivated crops. Perennials having creeping root-stocks often occur 

 after cultivated crops, since their roots are often carried and spread by the 

 cultivator and harrow. 



The principles of weed control are (1) a good rotation of crops; (2) the 

 destruction of weeds before they are able to seed; (3) the sowing of clean seed; 

 (4) clean cultivation which includes after-harvest cultivation; (5) the cutting 

 of weeds by the spud, scythe or hoe at the proper time; (6) using manure free 

 from weed seeds; and (7) the keeping of sheep and other livestock to close-crop 

 the weeds in pastures. 



Common Birds 



Most grown up persons in the country are sadly lacking in a knowledge of 

 the common birds, and do not appreciate the important part they play in pro- 

 tecting the crops from insect enemies. What a world of interest in the study of 

 birds! But alas, this interest had never been aroused in them as children, and 

 outside of the robin, crow, English sparrow and a few others, the birds are hardly 

 known. We pride ourselves in being a practical people, yet we do not take 

 proper care of our best friends. We think more of our cats. 



Without the intervention of birds, farmers would be unable to grow crops 

 within a few years on account of the great increase in the number of insects and 

 mice. Birds also nip in the bud many incipient scourges on account of their 

 ability to move rapidly from place to place in search of food. Prof. Thomson 

 says: "It is very interesting that the tw'O great classes of successful fliers (insects 

 and birds) should be, in the wide economics of nature, fitted against one another, 

 wings against wings, freeman against freeman, invertebrate against vertebrate, 

 little brain against big brain, instinct against intelligence. Practically this is the 

 most important conflict of classes that the world knows." 



The school should be a place where an interest in birds is aroused and fostered 

 so that the people of the community may fully realize the importance of protecting 

 these valuable agents in the control of insect pests. 



