CHAPTER XVI. 



WHAT 

 WEEDS SO 



Weeds. 



Weeds are not altog'etlier useless. They make us 

 till where we mlgrht negrlect to till, and keep our minds 

 at work to devise a better husbandry. 



A weed is a plant that grows where it is not 

 wanted. Weeds quickly take advantage of the 

 negligeiit farmer, but, as a rule, they do not 

 worry the man that knows how. On the irri- 

 gated alfalfa farm weed control is more perfect 

 and easy than in any other place of which wc 

 know. jSTotwithstanding this, every farmer has 

 his weed problems, and it often occurs that a 

 quick and prompt use of knowledge will save loss 

 and future Avorry. 



Weeds occupy soil that should be occupied by 

 more useful plants. They starve, dwarf and 

 kill or make unprofitable our money-making 

 crop. Weeds use up plant food and, Avhat is 

 more important to vis, they are just so many 

 pumps taking moisture out of the soil and throw- 

 ing it away. Plant-food used by weeds may be 

 restored to the soil if the weeds are not removed, 

 but the moisture used by them is irretrievably 

 lost. 



Unsightly and troublesome weeds knock 

 down farm values, for intelligent buyers of land 

 pass by a weedy farm that otherwise would be 



