The Rural Voice, 1983-06, Page 56STRIKING BACK
Weeds and fertilizers -1881
by Detonator Dan
Weeds created a problem for farmers in
the 1880's as they do now. Of course, we
have that great bank of chemicals to work
with while the farmers of 1880 had only
the grub hoe, the plow. and unbelievable
perseverance.
Canada thistle, couch grass, ox -eye
daisy and foxtail were the predominant
problem species, with ragweed and wild
mustard a close second. Canada thistle
even had its own Act to ensure its
recognition. Part of the Act, I quote:
"Every occupant of land must cut down
thistle as often as necessary to prevent
them from going to seed. A charge of ten
dollars for neglect.
The overseer of highways was respon-
sible for applying the Act (road super-
intendents and weed inspectors came
later so now we can recognize the start of
more government and less production).
Said officers gave notice re weeds and
cutting had to take place within five days.
Re weeds on railway property, notice was
given to the station agent (weeds would
go to seed if you went looking for a
station agent today).
Offences under the Act were adminis-
tered by the Justice of the Peace."
Wild mustard was a problem (because
it was bright yellow) but easily controll-
ed. I wonder how much bindweed would
be left in this country if it grew three feet
high and was florescent orange?
Can we farmers of the 1980's continue
to throw gallons, or is it litres of
chemicals to our soils and really believe
that we are doing something worthwhile?
Not having commercial fertilizer, the
farmers of the 1880's realized the value of
barnyard manure. The manure was a
significant factor in crop production,
with farmers recognizing that the liquid
portion was the most beneficial, but also
the most difficult to handle. Stream
pollution by manure runoff created
problems then as nuw. However, I believe
we are showing some concern today.
A few farmers had access to sawdust
for bedding, for during the 1880's there
was a proliferation of sawmills in
Ontario. Straw was used for bedding in
most cases. Farmers realized that fer-
mented manure was far superior to fresh
or green manure and managed their
resources accordingly by devising var-
ious types of manure -holding areas.
Rates of application varied up to 24
tons per acre for turnips. Mr. Brown of
the Model Farm used fourteen wagon
loads per acre along with two hundred
pounds of bone meal, two hundred and
fifty pounds of salt two hundred pounds
of gypsum and three hundred pounds of
mineral phosphate to enhance his crop
production.
There is no doubt that manure disposal
was very time consuming and hard work
in the 1880's. However, with no other
source of fertilizer, those farmers cer-
tainly benefited from the wise use of
manure.
Today, in the 1980's, we have many
modern methods of moving manure,
from the time -tested fork to the high
pressure irrigation method. Can we still
afford to spread manure on frozen
ground? Can we have complete disregard
for our environment by allowing stream
pollution to continue? Do we ever
consider the excessive soil compaction
that results from spreading with wheel
rigs? What about manure that comes
from diseased livestock? Should we be
allowed to spread manure on land that is
producing a crop for human consump-
tion?
Next month, underdraining and sub -
soiling.
Detonator Dan fa pseudonym as you may
have guessed] is a practicing farmer in
the boondocks of Colborne Township,
Huron County.
411
Where
Hopper
goes,
the
water
flows
• PROMPT RELIABLE SERVICE
• FREE ESTIMATES
• 5 MODERN ROTARY RIGS
Cali Collect
Neil 527-1737
James 527-0775
Durl 527-0828
W.D. HOPPER
& SONS
Water Well Drilling
SINCE 1915
R.R. 2 Seaforth
Members of the Ontario
Water Well Assoc.
KASE VANDEN HEUVEL
CONST. CO. LTD.
Farm and Commercial Buildings
R.R. 2 Goderich or Ken Janmaat, Seaforth
524-9176 527-1858 after six
THE RURAL VOICE, JUNE 1983 PG 55