Farm Weeds

by George H. Clark, B.S.A.
and
James Fletcher, LL.D., F.R.S.C., F.L.S
Will Illustrations by Norman Criddle

Front Cover:

This is a neat old piece of agricultural and botanical memorabilia. The book was published in 1909 by the Dominion of Canada Department of Agriculture, Branch of the Seed Commissioner. The book measures 7 Ľ inches by 10 Ľ inches and contains 192 pages. In addition, bound in the book are 76 full color plates which are printed on unnumbered pages and are blank on the reverse side. The beige cloth cover has gilt title and detailing on the front and down the spine. The cover shows signs of light soiling (more so on the spine). The cover shows signs of wear to the edges, corners and to the top and bottom of the spine. The top of the spine is slightly frayed at the front hinge and a small spot of the cloth is worn at the front hinge about Ľ of the way down. The top edge of the back cover shows some spotting. The spine is tight and the hinges are strong. The paper covering the hinges has split in several places. The boards are still securely held by the binding cords. The pages show no signs of rips or foxing. The signature of a previous owner is inscribed on the front free end page. The title page has a bit of the printing which has been rubbed off down towards the bottom of the page. Exceptions noted, the overall condition of the exterior of this book is good plus and the condition of the interior of the book is near very good.

Spine

Title Page

Contents

Preface
Introductory
What is a Weed?
Losses due to Weeds
How Weeds Spread
Classification of Weeds
Weed Seeds in the Soil
Control and Extermination of Weeds
General Principles
Summer Fallowing
Short Rotation of Crops
Sheep Destroy Weeds
Seeding to Grass
Farm Implements to Destroy Weeds
Weed Seeds in Commercial Seeds and Feeding Stuffs
Grass Family
Sedge Family
Rush Family
Buckwheat Family
Spinach or Goosefoot Family
Pigweed Family
Pink Family
Purslane Family
Buttercup Family
Fumitory Family
Mustard Family
Caper Family
Orpine Family
Rose Family
Pea Family
Spurge Family
Mallow Family
St. John’s-wort Family
Evening Primrose Family
Parsley Family
Milkweed Family
Morning Glory or Convolvulus Family
Borage Family
Vervain Family
Mint Family
Figwort Family
Ribwort or Plantain Family
Mader or Bedstraw Family
Sunflower Family
Explanation of Botanical Terms
Index

The Cultivator

Sweet Grass or Holy Grass

Excerpt – Introductory:
The annual losses due to the occurrence of pernicious weeds upon farm lands, although acknowledged in a general way, are far greater than is realized. These losses can be appreciably lessened, however, by treatment based upon an accurate knowledge of nature and of each weed.

Most farmers give little critical attention to the weeds growing among their crops. Some think that, because many of these plants are unfamiliar, the exact recognition of all of them is impossible. This, however, is not the case, and, as the different kinds vary greatly in their power of robbing the farmer, it is certainly advisable that more attention should be given to weed pests. Although several hundred kinds of plants grow wild in almost every locality, and many of these may appear among cultivated crops, comparatively few give serious trouble—not more than there are different kinds of crops grown—and every cultivator of the soil knows the difference between wheat, barley, oats, rye, peas, turnips, beets, etc. It is no more difficult to learn the names, nature and appearance of Stinkweed, Hare’s-ear Mustard, False Flax, Canada Thistle, Field Sow Thistle, Sweet Grass, quack, etc., than to recognize the familiar cultivated plants…
End excerpt