WEEDS AND THEIR CONTROL 225 



weed seeds from blowing about. Co-operative com- 

 munity effort as well as better farming must be 

 enlisted in the fight against weeds. 



4. Cleaning the grain separator before it comes on 

 the farm — the thresherman may resent this prac- 

 tice, but the farmer will suffer if it is not carried 

 out. 



5. Preventing stray animals roaming over the land — 

 the dissemination of seeds in the manure of wan- 

 dering stock is of common occurrence. 



6. Preventing the roadside weeds going to seed — this 

 may be the business of the community, but it is 

 sure to be the individual farmer's loss if not looked 

 after. 



7. The intelligent enforcement of weed control legis- 

 lation — laws do not kill weeds but they give power 

 to communities to protect themselves from careless 

 land owners and operators. 



178. Means at Man's Disposal for Controlling Weeds. — • 

 The chief means at our disposal for controlling weeds 

 already in the soil are tillage, crop rotations, smothering, 

 hand pulling, pasturing and the use of chemicals. 



Tillage. — In so far as controlling weeds is a function 

 of fallowing it is accomplished by tilling the latter in' 

 such a way as (1) to germinate the weed seeds present, 

 (2) to kill the weeds that grow and (3) if not successful 

 in the latter, to prevent the weeds forming seeds. 



The use of hoed or intertilled crops enables one, at 

 some expense, to germinate seeds and to kill many weeds 

 without leaving the land idle. 



By plowing in fall or spring every year, biennials can 

 be controlled absolutely and perennials can at least be 

 kept in check. By disking early in the fall, annuals can 



