Eradication of Wheat-Thief. 221 



mammoth clover, and alsike clover. It is 

 not carried in the seed of common red clo- 

 ver. It is further distributed by the drop- 

 pings of cattle, by the manure of the farm- 

 yard, by thrashing machines, and by birds. 



Modes of Eradication. 



The following are the modes of eradica- 

 tion that have been found most successful 

 in dealing with wheat-thief: 



I. Modifying the rotation. Drop out of 

 the rotation winter wheat, winter rye, and 

 meadow crops, but not necessarily pas- 

 tures, if these are kept eaten bare. The 

 omission of these crops from the rotation 

 need not continue for more than two or 

 three seasons if due attention be given to 

 autumn cultivation, as described in the next 

 section. In respect to pastures that are 

 infested, it will generally be sufficient to 

 deal with them by means of hand pulling. 



p. Autumn cultiration. Give careful 

 attention to autumn cultivation, for it is in 

 the autumn that the seeds of this weed ger- 

 minate most freely. The first plowing 

 after harvest may be either shallow or deep, 

 as may be desired. If the seeds of this 

 weed have fallen numerously during the 



