56 Weeds. 



and water, and such other agencies as wild 

 animals and birds. So far as these are con- 

 cerned, we must submit to the inevitable, 

 and fight them, when we are subjected to 

 their influence, as best we may. Our 

 resource here is to kill the weeds as soon 

 as possible after they appear, or at least 

 before they mature their seeds. 



Where the agencies are but partially 

 under our control, as implements of tillage 

 or thrashing machines, our duty is, by 

 watchfulness, patience, and care, to control 

 the agencies so far as we have power. The 

 judicious exercise of this control will always 

 be found easier than the eradication of the 

 weeds which they have been allowed to 

 bring to us. 



When the agencies are practically com- 

 pletely under our control, as that of the 

 inherent power of the weed plant to ripen 

 its own seeds, or to spread itself by means 

 of creeping root-stocks, the measure of the 

 persistency of our efforts to defeat this 

 power will be the measure of the time 

 required to effect complete extermination. 

 If weeds multiply upon our farms by the 

 shedding of their seeds, it is because we 

 allow them to do so; and if they multiply 



