ID'il.] Sam- of ])iskaski) Plants Ordkk oi 1;»-21. 8^9 



Tliere is usually a period between the harvesting ot on^^* croi) 

 and the planting of another during which a war of extermination 

 against weeds may he waged. This year the drought, however 

 lamentable in other ways, should att'ord special assistance in such 

 a campaign. The hot, dry weather has had the efTect of ripen- 

 ing cereal crops earlier than usual, and the interval between 

 harvesting and planting will, therefore be extended. 



Full advantage should be taken of this longer interval to clean 

 the land thoroughly. Ploughing, not too deep, or scarifying 

 should follow close behind the reapers, and if a good tilth can be 

 prepared weed seeds will be encouraged to sprout. Directly this 

 takes place (and the rain, when it comes, will be likely to induce 

 rapid germination^i the seedlings can be attacked in the mass 

 with cultivators and harrows. Ploughed in, the young weeds 

 will do some good as green manure. Though, in the war on 

 weeds, actual extermination by cultural methods is hardly pos- 

 sible, still, thorough attention while the land is unsown will gc 

 far to reduce the amount of horse-hooing and hand -hoeing 

 required in the future. 



Weeds such as couch, field bindweed and creeping thistle. ,vhich 

 spread by means of underground runners, naturally require' 

 different treatment from weeds which only live for a year. 

 Regarding such, or indeed any weeds, farmers might find it 

 useful to consult their County Agricultural Organisers, whose 

 names and addresses are given in the Ministry's Leaflet No. '219 

 In all cases, the main effort should be to prevent weeds from 

 growing at all ; it is much more expensive to deal with ihem 

 when they become established than to keep them down season 

 by season. One of the first conditions for clean crops is the use 

 of clean seed. 



* * * * * ^ ^ 



In the May issue of this Joitrnal, particulars were given of 

 the arrangements made as regards home-grown wheat prices of 

 Home rown ^^^^ 19*20 crop, and in the issue for July, it 

 Wheat^ Prices ^^'^^ stated that for the month of July the 

 1 ooA n ' average price properly receivable bv growers 

 1920 Crop. ,vas8-2s. per 504 1b.^ 

 The Ministry is now informed that the Poyal Commission on 

 wheat supplies calculate that the cost of wheat imported during 

 May, June and July is equivalent to 80s. per qr. of 504 lb. for 

 home-grown wheat of sound miUing quality. L'ntil 13th August, 

 therefore, the average price prop{>rly receivable by growers for 

 home-grown wheat of sound nulling quality of the 1920 crop 



