THE WEEDS OF THE EARTH 



is thrown out with much force so that it and 

 its fellows, flying at different angles, will cover 

 the widest possible territory. Many are so pre- 

 pared with wings or their substitutes that they 

 are wafted hither or thither on the lightest 

 breeze. Some bear a stout hook which, when 

 the seed has been blown upon cattle or sheep, 

 fastens the seed down into the hair or wool, to 

 be loosened later by the animals as they rub 

 them out of their long coats, thus scattering 

 the weeds far and wide. There is something 

 distinctly marauding in the sight of a long 

 procession of the hateful Russian thistles bowl- 

 ing along across a fertile prairie in the autumn 

 wind, scattering their evil selves over vast 

 reaches of country and doing untold damage 

 unless peremptorily challenged. 



The student learns that there is only one 

 word that applies to weed treatment if the 

 farmer is to maintain his independence, — exter- 

 mination. The life-history of the weed must 

 be studied, — its structure, its inclination, its 

 habits, its peculiarities, its underground life 

 fully as much as that above ground ; but, above 

 all, the best methods of extermination must 

 be clearly learned in each individual case. The 



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