LI 



THE PERSISTENCY OF PESTS 



FROM the sowing and planting of his 

 seed, almost indeed from the turning of 

 the furrow, the farmer enters upon a 

 contest with the weeds, for a place in 

 which his crops may grow, and if he or 

 the crops are not vanquished, as the 

 weeds never are, the warfare continues 

 till harvest time. 



While he, with infinite labor, prepares 

 the ground and sows his seed with all 

 care, praying that drouth may not wither 

 nor floods drown it, and that frosts may 

 not cut down the tender plants, the 

 winds of heaven and the fowls of the air 

 scatter broadcast the seeds of the nox- 

 ious weeds, or these lie dormant in the 

 ground awaiting opportunity. They ger- 

 minate in sterile places, fence corners 

 and nooks of the wayside, and flourish 

 alike in scorching sunshine and in sodden 

 soil. 



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