HOW TO GET RID OF WEEDS. 225 



In certain cases, one or more hoed crops may be raised on the 

 land thoroughly summer fallowed. Pastures and meadows 

 should always be looked over carefully and the weeds dug or 

 pulled before the seeds are ripe, or taken off the ground if the 

 seeds are ripe. 



Sheep must be kept from pastures until stick seed, hound's 

 tongue, burdock and the like have been removed. 



The large Aveeds, like narrow and bitter dock, parsnip, carrot, 

 may be left till the growing stalk has acquired some strength. 

 Then on some day when the soil is soft and before the seeds have 

 dropped, go over the field with a spade or a stout spud, thrust- 

 ing it down perpendicularly within a couple of inches of the 

 plant, take the stalk with one hand near the root and with the 

 other pry it loose. In this way no roots are left below the sur- 

 face to sprout and send up a new crop. Never cut off the tops 

 of such weeds, leaving the roots in the ground. 



By the following process the writer has found no trouble in 

 killing quack grass, whether the season be wet or dry, the soil 

 sand or clay, drained or undrained : 



Plow it late in autumn, and as soon as a team can be put on 

 the ground in the spring run over it with a cultivator every three 

 or four days. Never allow a leaf to show itself, for then it be- 

 gins to recuperate. By the middle of June every vestige has 

 disappeared. Farther south than Central Michigan no doubt it 

 would disappear earlier. To harrow and rake up the roots is a 

 waste of labor. If during its growing season, the green tops are 

 kept out of sight the plants will die. Thorough work, eternal 

 vigilance is the only way to keep the upper hand of weeds. 



For further remarks concerning the destruction of weeds, the 

 reader will consult the paragraphs on irrigation, drainage, use of 

 fertilizers, quack grass, care of meadows and pastures, the battle 

 in the meadow. 

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