pure seeds, in the products we buy, in manure. They are 

 carried by wind, water, snow, animals, birds and man, by tools 

 and machines, by railroads. Weeds are harmful because: (1) 

 They cut down the yield, (2) they damage the crop, (3) they 

 cheapen the product, (4) they mean hard work, (5) they in- 

 jure stock, (6) they reduce the profits, (7) they rob the soil, 

 (8) they lower land values, (9) they look shiftless. 



Weed Remedies Country boys and girls should know how 

 to get rid of weeds. The following remedies should be taught : 

 (1) Rotate the crop. (2) Fan and screen the seed. (3) Cul- 

 tivate frequently and thoroughly. (4) Prevent seeding. (5) 

 Use a smother crop. (6) Pasture with sheep. (7) Enrich 

 the ground. (8) Dig out. (9) Develop community sentiment. 

 (10 Keep everlastingly at it. 



Good Seed. The importance of good seed is clearly shown 

 by the following table prepared by the New York Experiment 

 Station in 1912. One pound of alsike clover 98% pure con- 

 tained the following number of weed seeds : 



Canada Thistle 288 



Sorrel , 4,272 



Dock 288 



Plantain 1,712 



Foxtail 288 



Chickweed 5,408 



Others 6,560 



Total Zl8,816 



Value of Birds. The total value of the farm products of 

 the United States in 1910 was $8,926,000,000. It has been es- 

 timated that birds saved at least one per cent of this crop, or 

 in other words that the yield was greater by 89,000,000 of dol- 

 lars because birds destroy insects which are harmful to crops. 

 It has been estimated that the yearly loss to farmers through 

 insects, amounts to $700,000,000. This loss would be far 

 greater were it not for the farmers' bird friends. Indeed, 

 were it not for the birds, agriculture would be well nigh im- 

 possible. Birds occupy a unique position. They are the farm- 

 er's cavalry. When there is a marked increase in the num- 

 ber of insects, rodents, or other enemies, the birds gather and 



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