THE IRON-WEED. 95 



future growth. In these ways the weed is continually 

 spreading into pastures which heretofore have been 

 entirely free from it. Taking into consideration that 

 it is a native plant, and therefore well suited to our 

 soil ; the character of its roots ; the immense number 

 of seeds produced ; the modes of their dissemination, 

 and its almost total exemption from the attacks of 

 injurious insects, it is no wonder that it is so well 

 able, not only to hold its own in the struggle for 

 existence, but also to increase in numbers from year 

 to year. 



As to the methods of extermination, many have 

 been tried, but. too often, in vain. One which can be 

 relied upon, but which in many cases is impracticable, 

 and moreover is fatal to the pasture as well as to the 

 iron-weed, is cultivation of the soil. Continued stir- 

 ring among its roots the plant cannot withstand and 

 so soon succumbs before the onslaught of the plow 

 and the hoe. Many persons believe that cutting the 

 weed during the flowering season will destroy it, but 

 they have their labor for their pains, its roots being 

 perennial, and the plant being, therefore, not dependent 

 upon the seed to carry it over the winter. One farmer 

 assured me that he had mowed the iron- weeds from 

 his pasture every August for 17 years, and that they 

 were still as abundant as ever. Another, after mowing 

 for years, went to work and grubbed them out, but 

 failed, of course, to remove all the pieces of roots from 

 the ground and the crop of the next season was not 

 appreciably diminished. A third has very nearly 

 solved the problem of their extermination, and it is to 

 his experience that I wish to call especial attention. 



