Grozu Soiling Crops. 83 



designed to mature their seeds, they may 

 be sown more thickly than other crops ; 

 hence their smothering power is greater 

 than if they were grown for the grain to be 

 obtained from them ; yet if they are required 

 for winter fodder, they may be allowed to 

 become so nearly ripe before being cut that 

 their grain is mature enough to possess con- 

 siderable feeding value, without allow^ing 

 many of the sorts of weeds that grow 

 among them to mature their seed. For 

 example, they may be grown in this way 

 and yet be cut before such weeds as the 

 Canada thistle or the perennial sow thistle 

 have opjX)rtunity to ripen their seeds ; hence 

 the cultivation of soiling crops has a ten- 

 dency to weaken the vigor of these weeds, 

 and to prevent their further increase. Some 

 of the most mischievous annual weeds and 

 biennial weeds may be prevented from 

 ripening their seeds in these crops ; in fact, 

 many of these weeds cannot possibly ripen 

 their seeds if the soiling crop amid \vhich 

 they grow is properly looked after. Because 

 of the further fact that frequently tw^o soil- 

 ing crops may be grov/n upon the same field 

 during the same season, the cultivation of 

 these crops becomes an excellent means for 



