1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 53 



Get rid of the idea that the object of cultivation is directly 

 to destroy the weeds and thus prevent their robbing the soil 

 of the nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash that they appro- 

 priate. The object in destroying the weeds is to prevent 

 their robbing the soil of water, for this fertilizer robbery that 

 has been so magnified by some lecturers can readily be offset 

 by a few handfuls of extra fertilizer, but to replace the water 

 thus lost would require barrels and team labor. After the 

 ears of corn have commenced to glaze, even have just passed 

 out of the milk, the requirements are dryness for the proper 

 maturing of the crop, hence, the last cultivation can theoret- 

 ically cease at the period when practical experience says 

 stop on account of the obstruction caused by the large 

 growth of the plant. At and after this period weeds may be 

 of no disadvantage, but help dry the soil, and after the last 

 of August, in this climate, with early planted corn, it is 

 probable that the corn plant matures its grain from the 

 material already stored within its tissues. Late weeds also 

 act in part as a green crop to pick up nitrogen and conserve 

 it against the percolating rains of autumn and winter, and 

 this green crop, when ploughed under the following spring, 

 is ready through decay to release this saved and stored 

 nitrogen to the succeeding crop. In the Middle South and 

 South the value of late weeds is such that in localities the 

 sowing of weed seed at the last cultivation could be wisely 

 recommended did not nature usually usurp the privilege 

 from her abundant stores. 



Following the plan of m}'' essay, I may add parenthet- 

 ically, as it were, that in raising the maximum crop which I 

 have figured on, I would by preference use at least some 

 artificial fertilizer, for the reasons offered, by which we may 

 believe that chemicals have an influence upon the economiz- 

 ing of the water content of the soil, but, for the same reasons 

 I have given before, I shall not dwell further upon this 

 branch of my subject. 



After this presentation I may rightfully appeal to the 

 thoughtful intelligence of my audience to corroborate or deny 

 the practical conclusions from their oft-repeated experience. 

 Let the question be honestly asked, are these things true, 

 are they properly noted, are the arguments valid, are they 



