164 NATURE TEACHING. 



rienced in removing the weeds, which grow 

 from the seeds lying dormant in the soil. 

 Even after years of cultivation, weeds are liable 

 to make their appearance, owing to the great 

 distances to which the seeds of many plants 

 can travel. The seeds of weeds moreover are 

 often introduced in stable and pen-manures, 

 and compost, when they may occasion much 

 trouble. For this reason, it is desirable that 

 manures of this description should be well 

 rotted before being used. 



3. In getting rid of weeds it is very im- 

 portant to remove them before they have had 

 an opportunity of ripening their seeds. If this 

 precaution is not taken the cultivator will 

 never have his land clean, and will be subject 

 to unending trouble and expense. Many weeds 

 propagate themselves by suckers and rooting 

 branches, as for example * French weed ' (Com- 

 melina), purslane and devil's or Bahama grass. 

 It is essential that these should be completely 

 dug up and destroyed ; merely chopping them 

 with a hoe only tends to aid their spreading 

 and to give rise to future trouble. Others, 

 as the ' nut-grass ' have underground tubers 

 which make them extremely difficult to entirely 

 remove. 



- ; .., r , 4. 1 The kinds of weeds which make their 



