CHAPTER XVI. 



WEEDS. 



Weeds are not altogether useless. They make us 

 till where we might neglect to till, and keep our minds 

 at work to devise a better husbandry. 



WHAT A weed is a plant that grows where it is not 



wanted. Weeds quickly take advantage of the 

 negligent farmer, but, as a rule, they do not 

 worry the man that knows how. On the irri- 

 gated alfalfa farm weed control is more perfect 

 and easy than in any other place of which we 

 know. Notwithstanding this, every farmer has 

 his weed problems, and it often occurs that a 

 quick and prompt use of knowledge will save los> 

 and future worry. 



Weeds occupy soil that should be occupied by 

 more useful plants. They starve, dwarf and 

 kill or make unprofitable our money-making 

 crop. Weeds use up plant food and, what is 

 more important to us, they are just so many 

 pumps taking moisture out of the soil and throw- 

 ing it away. Plant-food used by weeds may be 

 restored to the soil if the weeds are not removed, 

 but the moisture used by them is irretrievably 

 lost. 



Unsightly and troublesome weeds knock 

 down farm values, for intelligent buyers of land 

 pass by a weedy farm that otherwise would be 



