al obstacle, is now quite plain to me.

"However, returning to my list of questions. How is it, that the fields
and cultivated grounds at Solaris, are so free from weeds?"

"Ah!" said Fillmore. "The answer to that question, is another argument
in favor of co-operative farming. Weeds have always been counted by
farmers, as among the worst of the pests which they have been obliged to
contend with. Under the most adverse conditions, weeds will grow,
flourish, and ripen an appalling quantity of seed; where all useful
plants will languish and finally perish. To keep them down, is a task
which requires a great deal of hard work. To destroy them, root and
branch, is a problem which has occupied the minds of our people for the
past thirty months. After much thoughtful work, we have reached a
solution.

"During the period of frost, from the first of December to the first of
March, the weedy ground is thoroughly stirred several times. After each
stirring, the ground is swept by a broad stream of concentrated
heat-rays--both light and dark. These rays are generated by a number of
batteries of Solaris mirrors, or great sun glasses. This operation soon
warms the ground and causes the weeds to put forth a tender growth.
After such a growth, a week of frosty weather kills it down. This
process is repeated until the weeds are all gone. When the necessary
frosts do not appear, or when the work is carried on during warmer
weather, a scorching from the sun glasses, kills the weeds even more
effectively than frost. In this way the cultivated ground on the farm,
has been entirely freed from weeds. As a result, the yield of crops has
been largely increased, while the labor of cultivation has been
correspondingly reduced. That back-aching work of hoeing, has been
almost entirely dispensed with. Machine culture does the work.

"The great advantage gained by cropping soil free from weeds, is most
apparent in case of wheat culture. In such soils, the wheat can be
deeply sown by the drill, beyond the reach of predatory birds. This
develops a strong root-growth in the young plant, which as a consequence
requires more space. To meet this demand, care is taken to have the
drill-rows made one foot apart--running north and south. These wide rows
allow free access of air and sunlight to the soil, which may then be
cultivated. Under the old system this space would be full of weeds;
therefore impracticable. This gives the young wheat a chance to sprea