10 A MANUAL OF WEEDS 



a few of the many that are provided with this means of helping 

 themselves to "fresh fields and pastures new." 



Birds may undoubtedly be blamed for the appearance of some 

 weeds in new locations, particularly when they are found springing 

 up along telegraph lines or fences. But birds aid the farmer far 

 more as weed destroyers than they do him injury as weed dis- 

 seminators. Neglected roadsides and lanes ; old pastures where the 

 grazing animals have persistently passed by the plants that they 

 did not like ; stubbles where weeds have been permitted to spring 

 up and mature seed after harvest ; borders of fields and meadows 

 and other waste places of the land, all are most industriously 

 gleaned throughout the summer, autumn, and winter months by 

 seed-eating birds. Birds have keen appetites and swift digestion. 

 It is safe to say that each Goldfinch, Song Sparrow, or Snow Bunt- 

 ing needs at least a quarter-ounce of food daily to sustain life ; and 

 if the number of these feathered benefactors average no more than 

 a dozen to the square mile, in the aggregate the amount of noxious 

 stuff disposed of would reach many tons. The few seeds that are 

 dropped in the culling of these bird meals or that pass uninjured 

 through the digestive tract are of small account when compared to 

 so great a service. 



The spreading of stable manure before decomposition j$ a very 

 common source of weed infestation; and the statement is here 

 repeated that it is better to lose a large part of its fertilizing quality 

 by composting all such material, than to ensure future loss and need- 

 less labor by such soil contamination. 



One place where weeds are too frequently neglected is on land 

 belonging to the community at large. Along roads, canals, and 

 other public places they are allowed to bloom and mature their 

 seeds, becoming a menace to all near-by property, because " what is 

 everybody's business is nobody's business." The public sees the 

 wisdom and economy of supporting Game Commissioners in every 

 county; and no less wise an outlay would be the appointment of 

 County Weed Commissioners, to whom should be entrusted the 

 supervision, not only of the public domain, but also of individual 

 holdings which, through neglect, might become a menace to the 

 community. The most ignorant and careless cultivator of the land 

 is often the most easy to offend, and complaint and correction, as 



