CHAPTER FIVE 

 CROP ENEMIES AND FRIENDS 



WEEDS 



What Weeds Are. Weeds are well defined as ' plants out of 

 place,' those that persist in growing where they are not wanted. 

 Usually, they are wild plants. Sometimes they are cultivated ones 

 which cannot be kept in bounds. The beautiful Kentucky blue 

 grass is a weed when it grows in a hayfieid ; it is not tall enough for 

 hay, and it crowds out other grasses that are. 



Weeds are not altogether useless or harmful; they shade the 

 land, they supply humus, and they remind farmers that it is time 

 to till their crops. Some farmers do not consider the benefits of 

 tillage, and think it is necessary to cultivate a crop only often enough 

 to keep weeds in check. 



Agricultural Plants. Our agricultural plants have been se- 

 lected from among wild plants for some useful quality, and brought 

 into field, orchard, or garden. They have been cared for so long 

 that they have, to a great extent, lost ability to care for themselves. 

 Most of their vigor is spent in storing up the products for which 

 they are cultivated. They are cotton-bearers, grain-growers, fruit- 

 producers. 



Harm done by Weeds. Weeds, on the other hand, are used to 

 shifting for themselves, and are generally stronger and quicker- 

 growing than agricultural plants. They rob crops of food, mois- 

 ture, and light. They lessen the quantity, and often injure the 



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