WEEDS THAI DON’T DIE.

Waikato Independent, Volume XXII, Issue 2578, 29 July 1922, Page 7

WEEDS THAI DON’T DIE.

All sorts of fancy stories have been told of mummy wheat that has germinated after thousands of years’ burial in the heart of a pyramid. Here are a few cold facts culled from the scientific records of the Board of Agriculture. With a view to finding out how long the seeds of weeds could live deep in the ground, some interesting experiments have been carried out. A field was chosen which had been under grass for thirty-two years — from 1878 to 1910. This field was so far from the nearest cultivated land that seeds could* hardly have been carried there by wind.

A sampling-iron—a kind of huge cheese-scoop—was driven into the grass, and the soil beneath carefully removed to a depth of twelve inches. This soil —stiff clay—was taken away in paper bags, and placed in clean, sterilised pans under glass. It was kept moist, and left alone. Soon seedlings began to. show, and each was allowed to grow until large enough to identify. The result was startling. In this soil there appeared no fewer .than 395 varieties of seedlings. Among these were the scarlet pimpernel, the common blue forget-me-not, poppy, speedwell, bindweed, and, particularly, that foe of the farmer, the detcs- , tible knot-grass. None of these plants, except the forget-me-nots, are to be seen growing on the surface of this particular field.

We therefore have proof positive that these particular seeds can exist and maintain their germinating powers intact for at least, thirty-two years.

These experiments have since been carried further, and we can now add a number of other plants to the list, such as charlock, shepherd’s purse,

sandwort, etc. But enough has. been said to prove that the farmer who is ploughing up old pasture need not be surprised if. mixed with his new crops, lie discovers all sorts of new weeds.