Show WEED CONTROL IS COMMUNITY PROBLEM RATHER THAN FOR INDIVIDUAL FARMER h L LR R 4 x y o Y n A x S SrM rM c D Dandelions Gone to Seed Illustrating One Method of Weed Distribution Prepared by the United States Department Department Department Depart Depart- ment of or Agriculture The problem of suppressing weeds Is a n sided many one and ond an Important part part part-of of the management of ot the farm Successful crop mn management Includes successful weed management Larger Crops Mean Fewer Weeds Generally speaking the larger the crops the fewer the weeds present This Is especially true with small grain and ond ha hay since good stands of these crops will tend to smother out weeds Furthermore pastures that are given good care by top-dressings top and ond b by not overgrazing over always contain cont contain con con- t tain n fewer weeds and mo more e grass than those poorly managed Special Methods of Handling Certain Weeds Th The farmer fanner should know the kind of weeds which he has to fight because In the case of some of them special methods have been discovered which greatly reduce the amount of work necessary The United States department department depart depart- ment of agriculture has hns issued bulletins bulletins bulletins bul bul- treating Individually a number of the worst weeds and these publications publications publications may be obtained on request Rotations and Weeds An Important benefit from practicIng practicing ing Int a rotation Is in the control of ot weeds If land is planted to the same crop year after year certain weeds have ample opportunity to make top growth glowth and ond mature their seeds and these weeds therefore become firmly established but If the land Is s planted to different rent crops In succession these weeds do not have the opportunity to tomake tomake make nearly as ns much headway Furthermore Furthermore Fur Fur- adopting a n rotation usually means menns the growth of grass clover or other forage crops These crops not only discourage many kinds of weeds by their shading effect but also give weeds a poor chance to mature seeds as ns the they are cut for Cor hay before most weeds ripen Again adopting a 0 rotation rotation rotation rota rota- tion often orten means growing cultivated crops on land where such crops have not been raised The value of cultivated cultivated crops crop in ln cleaning land of weeds has already been emphasized Demonstrations of the value of a rotation in controlling weeds are available available avail avail- able in many localities For example In western Kansas wheat Is usually grown continuously and when this Is the case weeds are very troublesome but when Including a cultivated cultivated cul cul- crop and a forage crop is adopted the weeds that are so comI common common com com- I mon under continuous wheat growing do not have so much chance to make growth and to mature their seeds Hence weeds become very much re re- Another example Is furnished in parts of eastern New York where It is customary to keep land In meadow mead mend ow for tor many years These meadows become foul with orange hawkweed ox eye daisy wild carrot and other weeds Introducing a cultivated crop and a n grain crop soon disposes of most of these weeds operation Co-operation In Controlling Weeds Probably no feature of weed control is more important than operation co-operation among those concerned Veed Weed control control control con con- is a community problem rather than one for the individual farmer to solve and without the operation co-operation of his neighbors the results of the Individual individual In In- farmers farmer's efforts are more or orless orless less tess discouraging because where weeds are allowed to grow undisturbed undisturbed undisturbed the they produce sufficient seeds to Infest the adjacent lands The necessary necessary necessary essary operation co-operation might be arranged through agricultural clubs dubs and other I farm organizations |