Arable Land 
they become sickly and disheartened and may die out 
altogether. But if only one plant manages to flower 
and shed its seeds, the whole work may have to be done 
all over again. ‘One year’s seeding makes at least 
seven years’ weeding.” 
One very strange way of destroying weeds is said to 
be in use on an American railway (Illinois Central) A 
brush heavily charged with electricity is attached to a 
railway truck, and drawn along the track at about 
8 inches from the ground.4 Every plant touched by 
it turns black as if frozen, and dies. It used to cost 
ten dollars per mile to destroy these weeds, but now 
about five miles can be done in an hour, and at very 
little expense. 
Another method which is often employed in this 
country is to spray the weeds with a solution of copper 
sulphate. In dry weather during May and June, young 
charlock plants may be nearly killed out by spraying. 
But nowadays great care is taken to insure that no 
weeds are sown along with the corn or other crops. 
Many samples of seed corn were found to be full of the 
most dangerous pests of the farm. <A pound of “clover 
seed” was examined at the New Jersey Experimental 
Station which contained 14,400 seeds of no less than 
forty-four distinct and separate weeds. 
But even in the best and most carefully tended agri- 
cultural land, the dormant possibilities of evil are quite 
incalculable. Dr. Buchenau counted the number of 
weeds which appeared between May and December of 
1903, in a small garden which was only five square 
yards in extent, and yet 2683 germinating weeds were 
discovered upon it during those months.® 
The farmer has many other difficult tasks beyond 
those which we have mentioned. It is no easy matter 
to keep down the weeds, to keep up fences, drains, and 
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