65 



BecaiivSe of its size and vigorous growth Redroot is dangerous both to 

 seedlings and to later stages of farm plants. 



Pigweed harbors the White Rust ( Cystopus bliti ) from which Cox- 

 combs and Amaranths are liable to infection. 



Clean seed and cultivation with fall plowing will keep this ^veed un- 

 der control. 



The Golden Rods ( Solidago sp. ) belonging to the Thistle Fam- 

 ily are a pest in the low^-lying meadow and pasture land. The most an- 

 moying species are perennials, such as Solidago graminifolia, Bushy Gold- 

 enrod. Occasionally one sees pastures fairly overgrown with solid 

 masses of this tall, woody, and evil-tasting weed. The pollen of the 

 Goldenrods is believed to be irritating to those liable to hay fever. 



The cultivation and seeding down of infested pastures destroys the 

 root-system and kills out the weed. 



While the wide notoriety given the Russian Thistle ( Salsola 

 kali ) in Manitoba has made it seem more dangerous than it really is, it 

 has some features of a noxious w^eed. It is really no thistle at all, but a 

 relative of I^amb's Quarters, and belongs to the Spinach family. 



The plant is a bushy, much branched annual, w4th reduced, succulent, 

 sharp-pointed leaves. The seed-pod grows in the leaves of hard, spiny 

 bracts, ^^ hich make the plant a nuisance to the legs of horses and cattle. 



When mature, the plant often breakjs off near the ground and is rolled 

 aw^ay by the wind, dropping its seed from time to time. It is, in fact, a 

 tuanble-w^eed and so more to be feared. In Quebec it is said to be present 

 on 62 per cent of the farms (Report Com. Conservation, 1911 ) . When 

 young it should be hand-pulled and kept down by the cultivator. Early 

 fall plowing will germinate much of the seed, and frost then kills ihe 

 seedlings. 



Most cultivators now know that certain chemicals applied in a fine 

 spray wall kill weeds among grai.i or grass crops. Where spray pu nps 

 are available this method of con rol is growing fast into popularity. 

 Three of the more useful substances are arsenite of soda, using i and 1-2 

 lbs. in 50 gallons of -v^^ater; arsenate of soda, i lb. in 8 gallons of water, 

 and sulphate of iron or green vitriol crystals, applying 100 lbs. in 50 

 gallons of water. 



Spray on a still day after rain, or in clear weather. Grasses are not 

 readily affected, but clover meadows must not be sprayed or the clover 

 will be killed. Spray w^hen the weeds are young. 



Keep the following rules in mind to suppress weeds. 



I Buy, sell, and sow only clean seed, and that more heavily. 



2. Use a proper system of culture rotation including a hoed crop. 



3. Keep roadsides, fences and hedgerows free from weeds. 



4. Never let \\''eeds go to seed. 



