RULES FOR EXTERMINATING WEEDS. 21 



good results. A sj^sternatic short rotation of crops with regular 

 seeding down at short intervals to grasses or clover will do more 

 to solve the weed problem than any other rule which can be laid 

 down. In the same way that weeds crowd out crops and reduce 

 the yield, so may weeds themselves be choked out by these more 

 vigorous and thickly seeded crops which will prevent them from 

 getting light and air. 



3. KEEP WEEDS FROM RIPENING SEEDS. Each farmer owes it 

 not only to himself but to his neighbors to obey this the "golden 

 rule" of weed prevention. One slovenly farmer who neglects his 

 weeds is a bane to any neighborhood, for all surrounding him must 

 suffer for his neglect. Such a farmer lets the weeds grow and 

 ripen on the spots in his wheat fields where the corn shocks have 

 stood. He lets the jimson grow in the barnyard, the thistle by the 

 roadside, the burdock in the fence corners of his orchard. Each 

 of these weeds is a placard on which the word "slovenly" ap- 

 pears in autumn to every passer-by. 



Nothing is truer than the old adage 



"A weed that runs to seed 

 Is a seven year's weed." 



Especially is this true of the first specimen of any strange weed 

 that appears in a neighborhood. Then, if ever, should the old 

 Ovidian phrase, "Principiis obsta," be acted upon by the farmer. 

 "Nip the first buddings of evil" is a free translation. Cut with 

 a hoe or spud the stem of the stranger before it opens its bud and 

 perchance future generations w r ill rise up and call ye blessed. Do 

 not think that because there are only a few weeds in a field that 

 you can afford to let them go. Each one which seeds this year will 

 perhaps be represented by 5,000 next year. The one can be de- 

 stroyed in a few seconds, the 5,000 will require a day's hard work. 



4. BURN OVER STUBBLE OR FALLOW FIELDS. The seeds of a 

 myriad weeds can be easily destroyed in this way. Not only fu- 

 ture weeds but many injurious insects will also be killed. Almost 

 any field can be burned over in autumn without much danger by 

 running a couple of furrows around it and setting fire when the 

 wind is not too high. 



5. PLOW IN AUTUMN. The plowing and harrowing or other- 

 wise cultivating stubble and other fields in early autumn will cause 

 many seeds, especially those of annual weeds, to germinate. The 

 young weeds will mostly be winter-killed and those which survive 



