100 JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. t February s, issi 
in the interest of the occupiers of land and its general manage¬ 
ment, whether of arable or pasture and park lands, that the best 
methods of destroying weeds, and the injury they do to the corn 
and cattle of the farm, should be well defined and understood. 
To keep land free and clean from weeds is the broad basis of all 
good farming ; but it must not be imagined that weeds can be 
destroyed in the same manner that we dispose of hedgerows—by 
grubbing and removal, because we find that practically the soil is 
charged with seeds of weeds, for we have seen various weeds 
spring up on soil removed from wells soon after its exposure 
to the air. We also recognise this matter in our ordinary modes 
of cultivation, for having destroyed the weeds down to the 
depth of the ploughing we no sooner bring up fresh soil than 
we have to do battle with a new army of them. We should also 
endeavour to cultivate the land as in a great measure to destroy 
those which exist only under certain conditions of the soil. For 
instance, on soils deficient in chalk and lime weeds often overrun 
all the crops of either corn or roots, especially in sandy soils, so 
that the prevention of their growth is the first point to be con¬ 
sidered. It is in such a case clear that their prevention of growth 
is easier than their destruction by the ordinary means in use for 
that purpose—namely, the horse hoe, hand hoe, and the weeding 
hook, as well as the lately improved machinery. 
We commence with a few observations on that destructive weed 
called Couch or Twitch Grass, and with which most individuals 
connected with agriculture have from time to time become too 
well acquainted. Although we have been told by eminent men 
who have explored the antipodes that there are soils and countries 
free from this pest, yet wherever a white man puts his foot Couch 
Grass or its kindred weeds will immediately show themselves. 
There are several species of Couch Grass, the two principal being 
the deep white-rooted and the surface-rooting or tendril-like 
Grass, which is frequently called Water Grass. To eradicate or 
keep down these weeds we must be on the alert at all times, and 
use all means within our reach. If there be one way better than 
another it is by employing surplus labour during the winter months 
to fork them out from the root crops. Unless this plan is resorted 
to, the land in many localities, notwithstanding whatever may be 
done by way of autumn cultivation or cleaning in the spring, will 
always prove a serious drawback, and the expense of forking-out 
the bunches of white-rooted Grass will be far less than leaving the 
land to be cleaned in the ordinary way in after years, q.iite irre¬ 
spective of the delays of seed time. 
We now pass to the weeds called Charlock and Wild Mustard ; 
in fact, we have a wild Radish with a pale blue flower, of the same 
habit of growth and propagation peculiar to some soils. These 
are unwelcome weeds at all times, but especially to those who 
occupy upland farms on the chalk hills and on the stone brash 
formation. These weeds are very difficult to eradicate, as the 
seed lays dormant for a long period ; but as soon as the land is 
brought into good tilth vegetation commences. When they appear 
in the root crop we can do battle with them, where the roots are 
drilled by the horse and hand hoe with good effect, especially 
if the roots are grown on the stetch. When these weeds take 
possession of young Barley or Oats they become very troublesome ; 
and some thirty-six years ago Mr. Baker, who wrote the prize 
essay on the farming of Essex for the Royal Agricultural Society 
of England, alluded to the impossibility of destroying Charlock in 
the Barley crop. He, we suppose, wishing to make a virtue of a 
necessity, advised its being allowed to stand and seed with the 
Barley until harvest, and that the best malting samples of Barley 
frequently occurred when held up by Charlock. It is, however, 
now, we are pleased to say, perfectly easy to destroy these weeds 
by the new implement called the “weed eradicator,” drawn by 
one horse, and the result was explained under the heading of 
“ Agricultural Implements ” in this Journal on page 36. 
Wire weeds, of which there are at least two varieties—one grow¬ 
ing with a small and short-pointed leaf and fine branches, but not 
reaching very far ; the other having a larger and longer leaf, with 
very stout strong stems, and extending several feet; in fact, we 
once pulled a single root growing in some Beans, which was a 
perfect mat of stems 7 feet across, and weighed 9 lbs. These are 
usually most prevalent upon land requiring chalk ; it is therefore 
advisable to chalk or lime the land, in order to prevent the neces¬ 
sity of waging a constant war against them on the land under root 
cultivation by horse and hand hoeing. They are, however, far 
more troublesome and damaging in the Barley crop than in any 
other, for where they prevail and the land is seeded with Clover 
in the Barley, the Clover is frequently overpowered and completely 
destroyed, being at the same time detrimental to the crop of Barley. 
When the Barley is drilled at 9 or 10 inches apart the land may 
be horse-hoed or hand-hoed should the weather be favourable, 
and the Clover seeds sown immediately afterwards. Wire weeds, 
unfortunately, run along on the surface of the land, and in conse¬ 
quence the “ weed eradicator ” cannot touch them ; they are 
therefore more difficult to destroy than Charlock, which grows 
erect and blossoms quickly. This leaves the home farmer no 
alternative but to apply chalk or lime, or run the risk of unsuc¬ 
cessfully attacking them with the hoe. 
Another very difficult weed upon sandy soils is that commonly 
called “Bunting.” It is a very small plant with a very minute 
white flower, and unless it is destroyed in the early stages of 
growth it will impoverish the soil and impede the growth of 
vegetable or cereal crops, and frequently destroys them entirely, 
especially if the season is adverse for hoeing, as it seeds very 
quickly. As a preventive is better than auy labour for its destruc¬ 
tion this can be effectually done by a liberal dressing of chalk or 
lime, after which, if a few plants appear, they are easily destroyed 
by the ordinary process of hoeing. 
Chickweed is another enemy of the farmer, especially upon some 
soils, where it almost stops cultivation, particularly on fenlands 
in different counties. It is, however, well known to cultivators of 
gravel and dry loamy soils, and it is one of the most difficult to 
destroy by ordinary hoeings, as the slightest shower will set the 
plants growing again. The only time when it is likely to yield 
and die after the hoe is when the plants are in the second leaf, 
and even in that case if showery weather continues they cannot 
be destroyed. 
Docks are also troublesome, and without careful management 
and constant removal from the soil will propagate in the most 
extraordinary manner. This weed is said to be indigenous to 
some soils, but we contend that the way it is often found to 
make its appearance is in consequence of seed being brought up 
from the subsoil after deeper cultivation. We have noticed on 
clay soils in Buckinghamshire and various other counties that 
in very dry weather these tenacious soils crack open, leaving 
wide fissures; and at the harvest time in the act of cutting the 
crops, if the Docks have been left, the seeds fall out into these 
openings, so that on the return of moist weather they close in 
upon the Dock seeds, which in consequence remain at various 
depths without vegetating, until by tillage they become exposed 
to the sun and air. We have noticed that this weed is often very 
carelessly left to seed at the sides of the widest water-carriers in 
the irrigated meadows, and after dropping their seeds the next 
flooding of the meadows distributes them far and wide. 
(To be continued.) 
WORK ON THE HOME FARM. 
Horse Labour .—The work to be done by the horses will depend 
greatly upon the weather. When the land is dry enough chalk cart¬ 
ing and spreading may be done with advantage, about. 18 or 20 yards 
per acre being sufficient; also, carting yard, box, or town dung 
may be done upon the Clovers. In the other case, should flooding 
rains occur, the carting of roadside earth may be done, also the 
carting of chalk from the pit to a heap in the field where it will 
be required to be laid out at a future time. It must be remem¬ 
bered that the best and softest chalk should be selected, because it 
will always act upon the soil a year or two quicker than the hard, 
rubbly, and stone-like chalk. This is the time when the home farmer 
if he has roots or vegetables for sale can dispose of them to the best 
advantage ; for instance, a salesman advertises that he requires to 
purchase 100 tons of red Carrots, and as these are frequently worth 
from 50s. to GOs. per ton at the nearest railway station such a sale 
would make a favourable item on the farm balance sheet. This only 
makes our advice good on the growth of such roots and vegetables 
as may be not only fit for use upon the farm in feeding cattle, but 
ready for sale as food for the people in times of scarcity. The matter 
has been recently alluded to by a farmer who had grown Cabbages 
and sent them to the London market, for which he had but little 
return in money, and he proceeds to caution his brother farmers 
as to the bad policy of growing roots or vegetables upon the farm for 
sale. This farmer erred by sending his vegetables to market at a 
time when they were worth but little, whereas if consumed upon the 
farm they always maintain a value easily reckoned. Besides, the 
farmer has the advantage, if he used it, over the market gardener, 
inasmuch that he can always consume his green and root crops with¬ 
out loss upon the farm ; but not so the market gardener, because he 
grows his vegetables for sale only, and whether cheap or dear he has 
no other mode of disposal of his produce, thus showing that the 
home farmer, where so situated as to be near towns or railway 
stations, is in a better position to cultivate root and vegetable crops 
than the market gardener. 
. We have always recommended that horses employed in the tillage 
of the farm should in the winter months receive a moderate allowance 
of roots as part of their daily food, for in our own practice we found 
many years ago that to keep horses entirely upon dry food during 
winter and early spring impairs their constitution, weakens their 
muscular power, and often shortens their lives. The best food for 
