Successful farming : a ready reference on all phases of agriculture for farmers of the United States and Canada . lfa dodder. They are annualsand propagate by seed,and are very peculiarweeds because they liveupon other plants. Fromtheir habit of growth theyare known as seeds of thedodder germinate in the soil and the young plants soon perish unlessthey come in contact with a clover or alfalfa plant. Once in contactwith a suitable host plant, the roots of the weed soon decaj^. The fineyellowish and reddish stems twine about the host and spread from plantto plant; a single dodder p
Successful farming : a ready reference on all phases of agriculture for farmers of the United States and Canada . lfa dodder. They are annualsand propagate by seed,and are very peculiarweeds because they liveupon other plants. Fromtheir habit of growth theyare known as seeds of thedodder germinate in the soil and the young plants soon perish unlessthey come in contact with a clover or alfalfa plant. Once in contactwith a suitable host plant, the roots of the weed soon decaj^. The fineyellowish and reddish stems twine about the host and spread from plantto plant; a single dodder plant often growing on several different hostplants at the same time. This weed derives its nourishment by sending little suckers out intothe stems of the plant on which it grows. Dodders appear lifeless to thecasual observer as the leaves are reduced to mere scales. The white or pink flowers occur in clusters along the slender the latter part of summer the cluster may contain flowers in bloomand the matured seed at the same time. Small patches of dodder may result from a single seed. A patch can. A B Field Dodder. Flax Dodder. Seeds enlarged. Alfalfa Blossom ofAlfalfa Dodder. 1 Courtesy of The Pennsylvania Farmer. WEEDS AND THEIR ERADICATION 3G1 be distinguished at quite a distance on account of its distinct yellowishcast. Dodder seed is very difficult to remove from clover and alfalfa seed. Eradication.—The first step in the control of dodder is to sow cleanseed. Clover and alfalfa seed should be carefully examined for the pestbefore it is sown. When a field is badly infested the crop should be plowed under beforethe seeds form. Dodder seed, plowedunder, may remain in the soil for seven oreight years and then germinate. Afterplowing, plant a cultivated crop for a yearor two; as the weed is an annual, it yieldsreadily to cultivation. When dodder occurs in small patchesit majr be successfully eradicated by dig-ging up the infested areas. To avoid scat-ter
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, booksubjectagriculture, bookyear
