NOTES ON PLANTS. II3 



WEEDS AND SEEDS. 



That weeds are increasing in Maine is apparent to anyone 

 whose attention has been called to the matter. Scarcely a year 

 goes by without the introduction of some new weed not previ- 

 ously reported from the State. The spread on the farm, or from 

 farm to farm of old acquaintances is of common occurrence. 



The weed question has become a serious one to the farmers 

 of Maine. It is a hopeful sign that public opinion is becoming 

 aroused on the subject. 



There are several causes for the introduction and spread of 

 weeds, but they are largely under the control of farmers through 

 personal attention and legal enactment. 



Weed seeds may get into the State in discarded ballast from 

 vessels; through packing material from other states and coun- 

 tries; on through cars; by migrating birds and other minor 

 sources, although these latter causes are only occasional and 

 accidental. By far the most serious and certain causes are the 

 annual importation of seeds for planting and grain for feed. In 

 later years farmers have grown less grain than formerly and the 

 demand has steadily increased with our growing stock industry. 

 We are more dependant than ever upon other states both for 

 seeds and grain for feeding. With this foreign seed and grain 

 have been introduced the weeds growing in the regions from 

 which they came. 



Farmers have not been alive to the importance of not intro- 

 ducing weeds into their fields and have been quite indifferent in 

 regard to the quality of the seeds they have sown and the grain 

 they have fed. They have not seen the importance of destroy- 

 ing weeds in their fields when first introduced; have allowed 

 them to overrun the farm and spread from farm to farm until 

 the fighting of weeds has become a most serious problem. 

 There being no laws against the selling of seeds and grain har- 

 boring the seeds of bad weeds, dealers have taken no great 

 pains to offer for sale a quality of seed better than the consumer 

 demanded. Farmers in Maine are largely using a third grade 

 seed when they could get a first grade by paying a little more 

 for it. Dealers say that farmers often from choice take a 

 poorer grade of seed when a better could be had at a few cents 



