PLAN'I' I'KollLK.MS (i-.i 



Control of weeds. Select tlic laro-cst spccimons t<» he loiiiid 

 ill roadsides and vacant lots, barnyards, and gardens, of pcr- 

 liaps ten of the worst local weeds; dry carefnlly, thresh out 

 and connt or estimate the nmiilxT (»!" seeds in ciicli. NO onr 

 who takes j)art in sncli a lesson can cNcr he inchtVerent to al- 

 low in^' such weeds lo ri[)en llicir thousands or e\«'n millions 

 of seeds,! wlien a strokt^ of scytlie or hoe at tlic i-i<^lit tinit- 

 would stop them. 



Failure to study weeds and get clear ideas of tlitir powers 

 of re})roduetion and of effective metliods of extermiiuitiu^ 

 tlieni is responsi])le for the fact that moic decisiv*' hcadwav 

 has not been nuuh' in their control. I'liilhef topics in this 

 coiniection are tlie following-: 



Dispersal of weed seeds. Along witli rats, English spiirrows, 

 the San Jose scale, and i»v|)sv niotli, many of oui- worst weeds 

 are innnigrants from tlie ( )ld AVorld. Thev come mixed with 

 seeds and grains, in merchandise, and in all kinds of packing 

 materials, ^^'at{•hing ports of entry has not succccflcd in kcep- 

 ino' out tliese unwelcome LiUests. ()uronl\ hone lies in know 1- 

 edo-e sufficient to recomiize and u'ive tlie alarm and unite in 

 eradicating vicious im[)ortations before they l)ecome widi'ly 

 established. 



The more widely a plant is aide to scatter its seeds, the 

 bel-cer the chance of growth. Naturally wci'ds lead the world 

 of plants in effective devices for dispersing their seeds. They 

 are aided by different elements in the environment — winds, 

 flowing AViiters, and animals. Make a collection of wciwl seeds 



^ Tliis suirjrc'Stioii canicil mit in tlic Clovchinil Noniinl Scliu.tl vicMcil tlu' 

 fnlldwiiig results : 



Milkweed — ^Lsclepias f<!/rtitc<'ti •_'..') 1 seeils 



8t\vkt\<i;\its — B idem /random 7. < MO seeds 



Pijjweed — Ainaronfhtts hf/hridiis . .■5(r).7«i() seeds 



Vm-shnif — Port akica olerarea . . ■ I, '_'.")(»,( MM) seeds 



T.amb's-<in:irters — Che nopodium album .... l.tM.^iVJO see«ls 

 Woimseed — Chenopodiitui an(hehnh*ticuni . •jr),(.KS.'j.irK) seeds 



