S8 



FARM FRIENDS AND FARM FOES 



Name of Weed 

 Pursl3iie 

 Velvet leaf 

 Ragweed . 

 Cocklebur 

 Beggar-ticks 

 Redroot 

 Tumbleweed 

 Crab-grass . 

 Yellow Foxtail 



Number of Seeds 

 69,000 

 31,900 

 23,100 

 9,700 

 10,500 

 8;,ooo 

 14,000 

 89,600 

 113,600 



When plants are able to multiply at this rate, it is easy 

 to see how readily they might overrun the earth. 



Methods of Distribution 



Under the conditions of Nature weeds are dispersed in 

 almost all the many ways in which plants spread. They 

 are carried by wind, water, and animals, and exhibit number- 

 less devices for taking advantage of these agencies. The 

 study of these devices is of great interest. 



Under the conditions of modem agriculture, however, 

 man plays an important part in the distribution of weeds.. 

 Vast numbers of seeds are carried from place to place in 

 hay, ballast, and packing materials, and even more are dis- 

 persed as impurities of grains and commercial seeds. 



During recent years enormous numbers of weed seeds 

 have also been distributed in the various stock feeds upon 

 the market. Many investigations have shown that a large 

 part of these seeds are not digested, so that when they reach 

 the fields from the barn they germinate quickly. As a rule 

 these seeds are not readily detected in the feed because 

 they are mingled with chaff and grain or smeared over with 

 molasses. By careful studies, however, experiment station 

 officials have been able to identify and count these seeds 

 and to show the danger in the use of such feeds. 



