466 



Weeds and Their Suppression. 



weakening to the plant as a whole. If when these shoots are 

 produced they are cut off immediately, permanent loss or 

 damage is done to the plant, and repetitions of the process are 

 certain to end in total destruction, no matter what the weed 

 may be. 



To be successful, it is necessary that the cutting should take 

 place early in the season and throughout the summer, as often as 

 the new shoots are produced. If, after the first cutting, the 

 new shoots are allowed to grow and remain for some time, say 

 till late summer, the work is useless, for during the summer 

 the manufacture of food is carried on by the new shoots, and 

 the material made is stored below ground for use in the fol- 

 lowing season. To cut off the part above ground after such 

 storage has taken place is too late and is obviously a futile 

 process. 



Much attention should be given to the principle underlying 

 this method of destroying weeds, for conflicting statements are 

 very frequently made in regard to the efficacy of cutting 

 weeds with scythe or sickle. The success or failure depends 

 upon the time at which the work is carried out and repetition 

 at correct intervals. It may be taken as an axiom that so far 

 as the destruction of perennials is concerned, cutting once, 

 whether early or late, is valueless. Cut early, and follow it up 

 as often as possible, is the correct plan. This carried on for 

 a couple of seasons will effectually destroy practically all 

 weeds. 



Some plants can be destroyed by once cutting with hoe or 

 spud if the real root is severed, for the portions of the root left 

 in the ground have no power of forming new leafy shoots. A 

 carrot, for example, when cut through the root does not sprout 

 again. There are a few plants, however, such as docks and 

 dandelion, which are able to produce buds and stems from 

 their true roots, so that total removal of the whole plant is 

 necessary with these, or repeated cutting in the manner first 

 described. 



6. A number of weeds, such as rushes, sedges, and- horsetails, 

 are indicative of acid or sour conditions of the soil, which can 

 only be remedied completely by draining. Where this is not 

 possible, the next best thing to be done is to look carefully 



