QO WEEDS OF THE FARM AND GARDEN 



weeds is when they are young. The roots of all seedling 

 plants- are readily killed by being exposed for a short 

 time to the sun. A field or garden should be plowed and 

 then brought into a good state of tilth by using the har- 

 row. When planted with small grain or any other crop, 

 a little more labor in the spring may mean the saving of 

 much labor later. All of the annual weeds mentioned in 

 the list of most troublesome weeds should be treated in 

 this way. It may be difficult to destroy older plants of 

 purslane, for example, but young seedlings are easily de- 

 stroyed. Many of the annual weeds may be destroyed 

 with a solution of iron sulphate or copper sulphate. 



Treatment for Biennial Weeds. The biennial weeds 

 are not nearly so numerous in kind as the annual or 

 perennial and are much more readily destroyed than the 

 latter. The bull thistle, burdock and other biennial 

 weeds of this character are readily destroyed by cutting 

 the plants off a few inches below the surface of the 

 ground. A small spade will do this easily. In cutting, it 

 is, of course, essential to cut the root below the buds. 

 The bull thistle produces a mat of leaves close to the 

 ground the first season ; by cutting these off, as stated 

 above, the plant will not shoot up the second season. 



Treatment of Perennial Weeds. Perennial weeds are 

 nearly always difficult to destroy, much depending upon 

 the character of the "roots" produced by them. The 

 first and most important consideration is clean cultiva- 

 tion. At no time should leaves be permitted to appear, as 

 these are the organs which make plant food. As an ex- 

 ample, nimble will may be cited, which is so common 

 in the Mississippi valley. The "roots" of these plants 

 (there are several different kinds) are clustered. By 

 plowing the field, and running a harrow through it, then 

 later giving it thorough cultivation, the weeds can nearly 

 always be destroyed. They do not persist long in a pas- 

 ture in competition with blue grass. Dr. C. E. Bessey 



