1921.] Suppression of Weeds : National Necessity. 



275 



the mats and so encourage a home industry. They found the 

 mats successful, and ordered large quantities; the demand from 

 other directions increased rapidly and the makers realised higher 

 prices. 



For thatching purposes, the mats were originally made 15 ft. 

 by 4 ft., but for horticultural purposes they are chiefly made 

 12 ft. by 4 ft. They are almost frost proof and very durable, 

 and will last five years or more. In 1918, a meeting of members, 

 who, it should be noted are all women, was held, when it was 

 decided to form and register a Co-operative Society, the New- 

 borough Mat Makers' Association, affiliated to the Agricultural 

 Organisation Society. The shares are of the value of 2s. 6d. 

 each, fully paid. 



* * * * •* * 



The suppression of weeds, always an important consideration 

 to farmers, is specially urgent at the persent time. During 

 The Suppression War shortage of labour and the 



of Weeds • increase or the area under corn and root 

 . . , . - * .. crops led to the rapid foulincr of land 

 National Necessity. , ^ ^ n ^^ ix /> xi 



formerly clean, and the result or these con- 

 ditions is still apparent. Farmers are urged, therefore, to 

 remit no effort in combating weeds, which cause so serious 

 a reduction in crop yields. Tf existing arable land is to be 

 kept in a high state of cultivation, it is essential to sow pure 

 seed of high germinating power and to keep weeds down. 

 Suppression of weeds is also a main factor in the improvement 

 of pasture. 



Weeds are injurious in many ways. They absorb moisture 

 and plant food vrhich should go to benefit the crops : they crowd 

 the good growths, checking the free circulation of air; they 

 deprive the sprouting seed of necessary sunlight; they hamper 

 harvesting operations and interfere with the singling of roots. 

 Further, these enemies of good husbandry harbour insect pests, 

 reduce the value both of hay and of cereal samples and, where 

 they are parasitic or semi-parasitic, obtain their food by direct 

 robbery of the crops they infest. Nor does this exhaust all 

 counts of the indictment. Some weeds, such as garlic, taint 

 the milk of cows. Drains may be stopped by the underground 

 spread of weed-stems and roots. 



The advantages of thorough weeding have been j^nwed by 

 experiment. Tt has been shown that a properly weeded area 

 of arable land may produce double the crop possible on neglected 

 ground. Land hoed twice produced 37 J tons of mangolds per 



