Some Ways to Rid of Weeds
Of course, one of the best ways is to pull the weeds, never allowing them to go to seed. That’s best for annual kinds.
But the perennial kind must have the roots destroyed, so deep digging or ploughing in the Fall is a great help.
Cleaning off the growth and burning it in the Fall kills many seeds which might “winter over,” and come up in the Spring.
Salt is often used to kill grass in paths and garden walks.
Roman Wormwood
Some of the commonest weeds found in the garden are—
Lamb’s-quarters, or Pigweed, which is usually very unwelcome in the garden, but which some people use for “greens.”
Roman Wormwood, or Hogweed, which, from its name, you can see is troublesome everywhere.
Beggar-ticks, or Stick tights.
I guess you know them—
Their seed babies, I mean. Didn’t you get them all over your dresses and stockings one day in the woods?
Beggar-ticks
Smartweed and Knotweed and Lady’s Thumb all resemble each other in appearance.
Plantain and Rat Tails (Rib Grass, English Plantain) are cousins in the same family.
Pepper Grass and Shepherd’s Purse are cousins, too, and both belong to the Mustard family. You’ve often eaten pepper grass seeds, haven’t you?
Field Laurel, or Sour Grass, has leaves with a pleasantly sour flavor.
“Excuse me,” said Mary Frances, as Jack paused, “but you didn’t mention that if you ‘cultivate’ your garden, it will kill weeds.”
“I’m so glad you said that!” Jack replied. “It is the best way to keep weeds out of your garden; but I was speaking of where they had ‘gotten a start.’”
“They’re hard to pull sometimes,” remarked Eleanor. “I’ll tell you how I know. We have just the tiniest lawn, and father gives me an ice-cream cone for pulling five cents’ worth of weeds.”
“Isn’t that lovely of him!” Jack exclaimed.
“Sometimes,” he went on, “it is not only for the sake of the plants you want to have grow that you destroy the weeds, but to protect yourself. For instance, you wish to kill out all poisonous plants; such as—