WEEDS 171 



done by hand with a grub hoe. Biennials may 

 be killed by planting a crop that has to be hoed. 



Perennials, like the Canada thistle and morning 

 glorj^ may be killed by pulling them up by the 

 roots or by keeping all leaves cut off, so they can- 

 not breathe. They may also be destroyed by plow- 

 ing in the fall so as to expose their roots, or by 

 sowing a crop which will cover the ground very 

 thickly and smother out the w^eeds. 



Weeds for Drugs. Many of the troublesome 

 weeds on our farms might be sold for making crude 

 drugs and medicines. Some drug companies in our 

 country are beginning to plant burdock (Fig. 92), 

 hoarhound, jimsonweed and foxglove to be used in 

 making medicines and drugs. In Europe many 

 farmers cure the weeds and sell them to dealers 

 for this purpose. They dry thoroughly the leaves, 

 roots, bark or seed. If this is not done they will 

 mold. Many of the roots have to be washed and 

 carefully dried. Boys on the farm might do this. 

 The United States government has a pamphlet 

 describing the different plants and the method of 

 l)reparing them for market. Write also to the 

 Agricultural Experiment Station of your state for 

 bulletins on weeds. 



QUESTIONS 



(1) What are weeds? (2) Why are they injurious to 

 crops? (3) What are annuals, biennials, and perennial 

 weeds? (4) Give some good methods of fighting weeds. 

 (5) Tell about weeds for drugs. 



