1 98 [Assembly 



Mr. Reid said, " No, I run a cultivator between my trees suffi- 

 ciently often to prevent weeds growing at all, and therefore I am 

 never required to remove them." 



Common salt, it was well known, would destroy a very large 

 class of weeds, when used in quantities less than would be ibund 

 deleterious to current vegetation. 



Indeed, if the surface of the ground be covered with salt so 

 thiclily as to destroy all vegetation, that portion of soil the fol- 

 lowing year will be found more fertile than any other in its ueigh- 

 borhood, and entirely free from weeds. 



A large class of weeds is also very easily destroyed by the burn- 

 ing of light substances on the surface of the ground, as gardeners 

 prepare soil for cabbage plant beds, prior to sowing the seed, for 

 the raising of those plants. The absence of some one necessary 

 constituent of the useful crops often arrests their growth, and thus 

 gives rise to that class of weeds which flourish best in full sun- 

 shine, which effect they enjoy from the absence of the intended 

 crop. Those soils deficient of alkalies are often overrun with 

 sorrel, and the same efftcts, to a limited extent, are to be ob- 

 served from the absence of each of the necessary ingredients. 



Much was said as to the style of tools which should be used to 

 eradicate weeds. The use of the cultivator, instead of the har- 

 row, does much to destroy weeds which are germinated; for, 

 while the harrow plants many, the cultivator,if properly formed, 

 is continually throwing them to the surface, roots up, so that they 

 may be destroyed by the sun. 



The ordinary hand hoe is not so good a tool for getting rid of 

 weeds as the push or scuffle hoe. This, in the hands of a dexte- 

 rous operator, in its forward action cuts off the weeds, while its 

 backward motion spreads the cut weeds on the surface. 



Many crops may be planted with greater width between the 

 rows, and greater proximity in the rows, thus admitting of the 

 use of the various horse hoes, most of which are superior, for the 

 removal of weeds, to the ordinary cultivator. 



