Weeds and Their Suppression. 



463 



of barns and hay lofts, refuse from impure samples of oats, and 

 similar rubbish containing the seeds of weeds, often find their way 

 in the ordinary course of things to the manure heap, or are 

 deliberately thrown there in the belief that any seed which may 

 be present will be destroyed by the heat of fermentation and 

 other chemical changes going on in the heap. A great many seeds, 

 however, are not injured by such treatment ; in some instances 

 the seeds germinate better after being subjected to the processes 

 going on in a manure heap, or after passing through the stomach 

 of an animal. 



The use of impure samples of seed is another very potent means 

 of introducing weeds to a farm. For example, the presence of 

 even 1 per cent, of dock seed in a sample of red clover means 

 ten dock plants per squar e yard all over the field wherever such a 

 sample is sown at the ordinary rate for leys, and yet the farmer 

 not infrequently yields to the temptation of purchasing im- 

 perfectly cleaned seed solely on account of its low price. 



It is probably no exaggeration to say that for every farmer 

 who persistently buys only the best samples he can obtain, 

 there are ten who would purchase samples at 3d. or4d. per pound 

 less with all their faults, when it would in some cases have been 

 false economy to use such seed even if it were a gift. 



The amount of imperfectly cleaned seed on the market, 

 especially after unfavourable seasons such as we have just 

 experienced, is much greater than is generally imagined, and it 

 would well repay the farmer who is anxious to avoid unnecessary 

 labour, expense and worry, to pay closer attention, and give 

 more thought to this side of the weed question than has hitherto 

 been the case. 



Having obtained some insight into the manner in which weeds 

 are spread, it is possible to devise some general principles upon 

 which their suppression must be based. It is, however, needful 

 to emphasise the fact that, whatever methods are proposed, 

 they are little or no use unless faithfully carried out. Good 

 recommendations are valueless unless they are acted upon, and 

 more than ever is it essential that prompt and vigorous measures 

 should be adopted now that labour has become scarce in many 

 districts. Systematic well-timed effort is ten times more efficient 

 than haphazard and occasional attempts, and the outlay is more 



