56 



VERTICAL FARMING 



Weeds and Their Effects. Weeds injure crops by robbing 

 them of their water and food. The escape of water is intangi- 

 ble, like the setting free of plant food, because we cannot see 

 either with the eye and must put our wits to work to detect its 

 departure. Weeds may have a mission in life ; anyway they are 



WEEDS THE STAR BOARDERS 



stimulating rascals. When the farmer gets mad enough to go 

 after them, their mission is ended, for by destroying them he 

 conserves the moisture by unconsciously cultivating the ground 

 and increases the fertility of the soil. 



Conserving the Moisture. Where the moisture supply is 

 deficient, weeds should not be allowed at any time before, 

 during, or after the crops, for they remove water from the 

 soil as rapidly as the useful plants. When the water is ample, 

 but the soil too fine to permit rapid enough capillary movement, 



