8 FARM WEEDS OF CANADA. 



The prevalence of some species of weeds in certain parts 

 of the Dominion must be viewed with the gravest alarm, for 

 they have taken such possession of the land as to seriously 

 affect profitable farming. Such aggressive enemies are: Wild 

 Mustard, Quack or Couch Grass and Canada Thistle in parts of 

 almost every province; Ox-eye Daisy in the Maritime Provinces; 

 Field Sow Thistle in the Maritime Provinces, Quebec, Ontario, 

 and the Red River Valley in Manitoba ; and Stinkweed or 

 Penny Cress, Ball Mustard and Hare's-ear Mustard in all the 

 Prairie Provinces. 



The increase of weeds is frequently due to the fact that 

 through ignorance of their noxious nature and power to spread, 

 farmers have neglected them. 



"Many of our farmers have only a limited knowledge of 

 weeds, and in many cases do not recognize those that are dan- 

 gerous on their first appearance. Hence we have 'One year's 

 seeding, seven years' weeding.' There are some weeds so 

 noxious that if farmers knew their real character and recog- 

 nized the plants on their first appearance, they would postpone 

 all other business until they were destroyed. . . Self-interest 

 should be a sufficient incentive to farmers to destroy weeds 

 if it is clearly shown that it will pay them to do so." H. Mac- 

 kellar. 



WHAT IS A WEED? 



There are many definitions of the word, but perhaps from a 

 farmer's standpoint the best one is, "Any injurious, trouble- 

 some or unsightly plant that is at the same time useless or 

 comparatively so." As a general statement, it may be said 

 that' our most troublesome and aggressive weeds have been 

 introduced into Canada from other countries; but it is also 

 true that, under special circumstances, some of our native 

 wild plants may increase and become "noxious weeds." 



LOSSES DUE TO WEEDS. 



It is impossible to determine accurately the losses to 

 the individual farmer, or to an agricultural district or country 



