18G3. 



THE ILLINOIS FxVRMER. 



53 



The Multiplication of Weeds 



n all parts of the land ownor's premises weeds 

 now beginning to vipen their myi-iad seeds. 

 . ^.y few can say they I'.ixve none. And while they 

 liavc any at all to increase end multiply, it is hard 



be another 

 icularly to 



nniil weeds ripen on a single plant. .. ..^ „ 



tail plants varies from 2,000 to 4,000 seeds ; the 

 ))rown foxtail 1,000 to 2,000 ; the cocii's foot Pan- 

 icum about 2,000 ; tiic Eag-weed, or Ambrosia, 

 often 15,000 ; the Tigwocd or Amaranthus, 5,000 ; 

 and the Lamb's-quarters, also called Pigweed, (che- 

 nopodiuin), often at least 20,000. We lately rode 

 pasta "garden" where there were plants of the 

 latter at "least seven feet high, and the number of 

 seeds which each bore must have been at least 50,- 

 OOO to 100,000. A sniffle plant would ihiis seed ten 

 ac7-cs, allowing one plant to every two feet square ! 

 Many farmers v/onder where all the weeds come 

 from — they cannot conceive how so many should 

 have become mixed through the soil, and some 

 consequently insist that the_y grow without seed, 

 spontaneously. Let us examine a monieiit, aiid sec 

 if so improbable a cause is necessary to account 

 for their vast numbers : 



In a late" number of the '" Country Gentleman," 

 a series of recent experiments by one of the edi- 

 tors, is given to sliow tliat by burying such coarse 

 seed as wheat six inches deep, they would scarcely 

 grow, and beans at that depth would not grov,^ at 

 all. When we come to such small seeds as those 

 of Pigweed, Foxtain, etc., where from tvventy to 

 fifty arc ixuiuired to equal the bulk of a single grain 

 of v/heat, we may at once perceive that they would 

 not vegetate uiiless very near the surface. The 

 soil might therefore contain a vast number in a 

 dormant state, ready to spring into wild luxuriance 

 as soon as the plow throws them up to the surface. 



But if the soil were so full of these seeds, would 

 we not at once perceive their presence all through 

 it in working it with tlie plow, spade or hoe ? Let 

 us look a n\oment at this question. A bushel of 

 Pig-weed seed contains over 50,000,000 — 10,000, 

 as we have shown, would seed an aci'e, or a bushel 

 5,000_acre,!. ,But we will be cxtrava.gantly liberal, 

 and give a busliel to onlv one acre — enough for a 

 dense growtliof eight plants to every squu'i-e inch. 

 Yet a bushel is only one-twentv-thousandth part of 

 the bulk of the soil on an acre" of crJinarv depth ■ 

 lience there may be fifty million Pig-weed" seed all 

 through an acre of soil, yet constituting but a 

 twenty-thousandth part, and quite imperceptible 

 even to close observation. No wonder then that 

 whenever the soil is turned up to air and lio-ht, 

 these numberless seed start into germination, and 

 the whole surface is soon covered with a clo=e 

 green growth. 



Their number is almost beyond estimate. Their 

 increase is incredible. Every farmer who passes 

 by a single weed should know what figures sav of 

 the increase it may occasion. Take the lowest 

 number we have given for the product of seed on 

 one plant, or only 1,000; next year, 1863, it may 

 be 1,000,000; in 1864, 1,000,000,000; in 1865 

 1,000,000,000,000. This will do for three years— 

 our young arithmetical readers may carry out the 

 calculation for the ten years if they wish. 



This, altogether, 

 way, however, 



looks formidable. The best 



to conquer an enemy is first to 

 knov/ his strengtli. Such a thing has been done 

 as clearing a farm of weeds, and it may be done 

 again. Plowing, harrowing, careful cultivation, 

 well conducted rotation, seeding to grass, etc., 

 have performed wonders on the farm at large ; 

 and the hoe, spade, and thumb and fingers, have 

 been as successful as in the garden. The great 

 eri-or v»hieh most have committed, as we have 

 elsewhere remarked, i.s in not making the war one 

 of complete extermination. A very few stragglers 

 are enough to increase and multiply. If a farmer 

 has a ten acre field of weeds, and if he succeeds 

 in destroyiog ninety-nine hundredths, he is satis- 

 fied ; he thinks he has done the thing "up brown." 

 But in a year <>r two he- has the same operation to 

 go over again. It v.ould be far more economical, 

 and save also a great injur}' to an otherwise half 

 smothered crop, to finish the job up completely 

 and totally — search r.nd researcri till the last soli- 

 tary straggler is demolished. This is especially so 

 with gardens. Let nothing go to seed — hunt for 

 the last one— the soil will soon be worked clean, 

 and labor v.ill be lessened, and crops greatly in- 

 creased. But the pr^'.e of freedom (from weeds) is 

 eternal vigilance. — Country Gentleman. 



Cottox-Growixg IX Xj:w Jersey. — An extensive 

 cotton growing enterprise has been lately attempt- 

 ed in Burlington county, in this State, by Edward 

 G. James, a gentleman of wealth and large estate. 

 The enterprise was commenced in May last, when 

 Mr. James appropriated three acres to the cotton 

 culture. The seed was procured from North Caro- 

 lina, the ground Vvus carefully prepared by deep 

 cultivation and and heavy manuring, and about the 

 middle of Jlay the three acres were planted. The 

 spring was cold, wet, and late. The soil chosen 

 was unfortunately too heavy. Notwithstanding 

 these drawbiicks, with a general inexperience in 

 the culture of cotton, the crop has grown with ex- 

 traordinary vigor. At this time there are thous- 

 ands of the plants that stand five feet,high, while 

 their branches interlock midway of the rows. 

 They are loaded with blossoms and bolls, some 

 showing as man}- as sixty boTls. These are in 

 all stages of progress, some opened and displaying 

 the fleecy contents of a well filled boll. On Mon- 

 day night last the first frost fell ujwn them. It 

 was tender enough to blacken all tender vegetation 

 as though fire had swept over it ; but the cotton 

 phmts are far from being killed. Numerous south- 

 erners, familiar with cotton growing, have visited 

 this trial plantation, and they concur in saying that 

 they have never seen a more promising cotton field 

 even in Georgia. Some cotton has been gathered, 

 and more will be secured. What the whole yield 

 may be is yet uncertain. The season has been un- 

 friendly, the ex{^erinient was a trial one, yet so far 

 it has not been successful. — Neioark Ilcrcury. 



Hog Cholera in Peoria County. — We under- 

 stand the hog disease is committing great ravages 

 in Trivoli. E. C. Redding informs us that he has 

 lost at least fifty within the last few weeks, embra- 

 cing many fine, fat ones. Dennis Orten has lost 

 nearly if not quite as many, while Orson Johnson, 

 Hiram Sperry and otliers of his neighbors have 

 also suffered largely, though perhaps not to the 

 same extent. — Peoria Transcript 



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