228 



SUCCESSFUL FARMING 



A good short rotation will in time reduce the seed in the soil. In 

 grain fields, young seedlings may be harrowed out when the grain is but a 

 few inches high. Later on the mustard may be destroyed by the use of 

 iron sulphate or copper sulphate spray. Iron sulphate is probably the 

 most efficient and cheapest spray. The spraying should be done before 

 the grain heads are out and when the mustard is just beginning to flower. 

 The spraying at this time will kill practically all the mustard with little 

 or no injury to the grain. Spraying for weeds should be done on a bright, 

 still day when there are no immediate prospects of rain. For spraying, 



use a solution made by dissolving 100 

 pounds of iron sulphate in 52 gallons of 

 water. This solution should be used at 

 the rate of 50 gallons to the acre and put 

 on at a high pressure of 100 or more pounds 

 to the square inch. The spraying can be 

 done at a cost of approximately $1.25 per 

 acre. 



Shepherd's-Purse. — Shepherd's-purse 

 is sometimes known as Case weed, St. 

 James' weed and Mother's Heart. "With 

 the exception of the chickweed, it is prob- 

 ably the most common weed on earth," 

 being found in all cultivated regions of the 

 world. 



Shepherd's-purse is very prolific and 

 its seeds have long vitality. This weed 

 often harbors the club-root fungus, so 

 common on cabbage, cauliflower, turnips 

 and radishes, and will- infect soil where 

 those plants are cultivated. 



Shepherd's-purse is an annual, or 

 winter annual. It is one of the first plants 

 to make its appearance in the spring and it is not uncommon to find 

 it making a good growth in March. 



The seeds, as a rule, germinate in the fall and form a rosette of leaves, 

 close to the ground. From this rosette the following spring, arise the stems 

 which vary from three inches to two feet in height. The leaves growing 

 close to the ground are rather long and deeply cut, while those on the stem 

 are small and arrow shaped. The small white flowers are borne in elon- 

 gated heads or racemes. On the flowering stalks will be found all gradua- 

 tions from a small bunch of flowers in bloom at the end, down to mature 

 pods below. 



Shepherd's-purse is propagated by seeds only, which germinate either 

 in the fall or spring. This weed flowers and produces seed throughout the 



Shepherd ' s-Ptjrse 

 (Capsella bursapastoris). 1 



A — Enlarged seed pod. 

 B — Enlarged seed. 



1 Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Farmer. 



