CLOVER AS A WEED-EXTERMINATOR. 335 



the owner ; it is not excelled by any forage crop as a wholesome 

 summer pasture for swine, and some have spoken very highly 

 of its use in winter when fed to swine in the form of hay. 



For soiling, a good growth of red clover is very valuable, and 

 it has often been packed into the silo to feed as ensilage in the 

 winter. 



Clover as a Weed-Exterminator. We have ample testimo- 

 ny from a great variety of sources that red clover, with a little 

 gypsum and perhaps a top dressing of some other fertilizer, is 

 excellent to smother and kill out our worst weeds. 



The following was furnished by special request by J. S. Wood- 

 ward, now one of the editors of the Rural New Yorker : " Can- 

 ada thistles have long roots which store up nourishment during 

 the latter part of summer and fall to feed the spring growth. I 

 kill the thistles without the loss of a crop as follows : Have the 

 land rich, if possible, at least have it well seeded to clover and 

 by top dressing with plaster, ashes, or by some means get as good 

 growth to the clover as possible. As soon as the clover is in full 

 bloom, and here and there a thistle shows a blossom, mow and 

 make the crop, thistles and all, into hay. After mowing, apply 

 a little plaster to quickly start the growth of clover. You will 

 find this to come much quicker than the thistles. As soon as 

 the clover has a good start, from July 20tli to August 5th, plow 

 down, being careful to plow all the land and to fully cover all 

 growth. Then roll and harrow at once, so as to cover every 

 thistle. But few thistles will ever show themselves after this, 

 and they will look pale and weak. W T hen they do show, culti- 

 vate thoroughly with a cultivator having broad, sharp teeth, so 

 as to cut every one off under the ground. In two days go over 

 with a sharp hoe and cut off any that may have escaped the cul- 

 tivator. Watch the thistles, and keep using the hoe and culti- 

 yator until freezing weather. You will see them getting scarcer 

 and scarcer each time and looking as though they had the con- 



