CHAPTER IX. 



Destroying Weeds. 



The correct method to adopt for increasing soil 

 fertility and ridding the soil of weeds and weed seeds, 

 both annual and perennial, is shallow plowing and 

 thorough cultivation early in the autumn, using the 

 wide points on the cultivator and harrowing al- 

 ternately. 



All seeds near the surface will germinate and 

 grow quickly and the roots of perennials will send 

 up shoots. The simplest method of exterminating 

 these is to cut them off below the surface when 

 about three inches high or before the leaves are 

 fully developed. 



This work can be done expeditiously with either 

 a spring or stiff-tooth cultivator with wide points 

 regulated to cut two or three inches below the 

 surface. See Ills. 47 and 48. 



When the weed plants are growing they derive 

 their nourishment from the soil through the roots, 

 but after the leaves are fully developed they collect 

 a certain amount of nutriment from the atmosphere. 

 Care should, therefore, be taken that they are cut 

 down before the leaves are developed. After the 

 land has been cultivated and harrowed in the manner 

 described, a hot summer sun will kill all the weeds 

 thus cut off. 



If this operation is repeated at intervals of two 

 weeks until September, the land will be quite cleared 

 of all perennial weeds and annual foul seeds that 

 were on or near the surface. When land has been 

 treated in the manner described in the foregoing 

 paragraphs it will be in good condition to grow a 

 grain crop of any kind. 



To Clean the 

 Land from 

 Weeds and 

 Weed Seeds. 



Hasten 

 Germination. 



Best Imple- 

 ment to Use. 



When to Cul- 

 tivate. 



Cultivate and 

 Harrow at 

 Intervals. 



