now TO GET Itri) OF WEEDS. a35 



[ii cfrliiiii t'iisn.s, oM(! or iiioro hood (M'ops imiy bo raisi'd on tho 

 liiinl tlioroitglily Hiimmor fallowiMl. Piistures and nicadowH 

 should always bo lookud oviT oarol'uUy and tho wihmIs d\\}i or 

 pulhMl bi'foro tho socds iiro ripo, or tukou oil' tho ground it' tho 

 soods aro r4»e. 



Sht'op must bo kept I'loiii ])asturos) until stiok sood, houud'ij 

 tongue, burdock and tho liko havo boon rouiovod. 



Tho largo woods, liko narrow and bitter dock, parsnip, carrot, 

 may bo lol't till tho growing stalk has acquired some strength. 

 Then on some day when tho soil is soft and before tho seeds havo 

 dropi)od, go over the lield witii a sjjade or a stout spud, thrust- 

 ing it down perpeiulicularly Avithin a couple of inches of tho 

 plant, take tho stalk with one hand near tho root and with tho 

 other pry it loose. In this way no roots aro loft below tho sur- 

 face to sprout and seiul up a new crop. Never cut olE tho tops 

 of such weeds, leaving tho roots in tho ground. 



By tho following process tho writer has fouud no trouble in 

 killing (juack grass, whether the season bo wet or dry, the soil 

 sand or clay, drained or undraiiu'il- 



Plow it lato in autumn, and as soon as a team can be put on 

 the ground in the spring run over it with a cultivator every throe 

 or four days. Never allow a leaf to show itself, for then it be- 

 gins to recuperate. By the middle of June every vestige has 

 disappeared. Farther south than Central Mieliigan no doubt it 

 would disappear earlier. To harrow and rake Tip the roots is a 

 waste of labor. If during its growing season, the green tops are 

 kept out of sight tho plants will die. Thorough work, eternal 

 vigilance is the only way to keep the upper hand of weeds. 



For further remarks concerning the destruction of weeds, the 

 reader will consult tho paragraphs on irrigation, drainage, use of 

 fertilizers, quack grass, care of meadows and pastures, the battle 

 in the meadow. 

 39 



