Wedgwood
JOSIAH, an English potter; born in Burslem, Staffordshire, England, July 12, 1730. He received little education, and went to work in his brother's factory at the age of 11. An incurable lameness, the result of smallpox, which subsequently compelled him to have his right leg amputated, forced him to give up the potter's wheel. He removed for a time to Stoke, where he entered into partnership with persons in his own trade, and where his talent for ornamental pottery was first displayed. Returning in 1759 to Burslem, he set up a small manufactory of his own, in which he made a variety of fancy articles. His business improving, he turned his attention to white stoneware, and to the cream-colored ware for which he became famous; and he succeeded in producing a ware so hard and durable as to render works of art produced in it almost indestructible. His reproduction of the Portland Vase is famous. He also executed various paintings on pottery without the artificial gloss so detrimental to the effect of superior work. Josiah Wedgewood's numerous improvements in pottery created the great trade of the Staffordshire potteries. He died in Etruria, near Newcastle-under-Lyme, Jan. 3, 1795. See POTTERY.
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Weed
WALTER HARVEY, an American geologist; born in St. Louis, May 1, 1862; was graduated at Columbia School of Mines in 1883; and was then appointed geologist on the United States Geological Survey. In 1883-1889 he was on the geological survey of the Yellowstone Park. He discovered that colors in hot springs and deposits in geysers are caused by algæ. He also discovered Death Gulch in that park, where bears, elk, etc., are killed by inhaling carbon dioxide gas emitted from an extinct hot spring. In 1889-1898 he was engaged on a general geological exploration of Montana, and made important discoveries. In 1899 he brought out the first published theory of secondary enrichment of ore deposits. He was the author of "Formation of Hot Springs Deposits"; "Laramie and Livingston Formations"; "Glaciation of Yellowstone Park"; "Geology of Castle Mountain District"; "Geology of Bear Paw Mountains"; "Secondary Enrichment of Mineral Veins"; "Ore Deposits"; etc.
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Weed (Name given to each of those)
the name given to each of those plants which grow wild in cultivated grounds, and injure the crops; which they do both by choking them and by exhausting the soil. Those weeds which are annuals or biennials, as charlock, yellow rattle, and melilot, may gradually be got rid of by merely cultivating, for a succession of years, such plants as are to be cut before the seeds of the weeds are fully ripe. Perennial weeds, such as couch-grass, can only be removed from the ground by repeated and careful tilling; and for this purpose crops which require much hoeing are advantageously planted, and recourse is had to summer fallowing in fields, and frequent weeding in gardens. Thistles and other large weeds are frequently pulled in cornfields before the corn comes into ear, and to prevent their seeding they are cut in pastures. Sedges and rushes, which spring up in great abundance in damp grounds, disappear on thorough draining. Leafy crops which thickly cover the soil prevent the growth of many weeds by the exclusion of air and light. Weeds which have been rooted up form excellent compost for manure. Those which make their appearance in fallow grounds serve for green manuring when they are down plowed . Cultivated grasses growing in arable fields are weeds there. The seeds of weeds are carried normally by the wind, but may be conveyed by running streams.
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Weed (THURLOW an American journalist)
THURLOW, an American journalist; born in Cairo, N. Y., Nov. 15, 1797; was employed as a lad in several printing offices; served as a private in the War of 1812; and afterward edited newspapers in western New York, till in 1830 he founded the Albany "Evening Journal," an anti-Jackson, Whig, or Republican paper, which became the organ of the party, and which he controlled for 35 years. He was a leading party manager in State and National politics in 1824-1876, exercising almost supreme influence in nominations and appointments, while declining all offices for himself. He was influential in nominating Harrison in 1836 and 1840, Clay in 1844, Taylor in 1848, and Scott in 1852; with Seward and Greeley controlled New York; supported Lincoln and the Civil War; and went for him on a mission to Europe in 1861-1862. In 1867-1868 he was editor of the New York "Commercial Advertiser." He wrote "Letters from Europe and the West Indies" (1866); "Reminiscences" (in "Atlantic Monthly," 1870); ; "Autobiography" (1884). He died in New York City, Nov. 22, 1882.
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Weeds
plants found troublesome in tillage. Some one has defined weeds as plants out of place. Some farmers insist that weeds be exterminated on their farms. They cut fencerow weeds and sow grass in their place, take pains that no weeds go to seed, and clean all their seed with care before planting. It is difficult to free a farm from weeds, and difficult to prevent seeds from blowing over from the premises of an untidy neighbor. Then, too, some weeds spring up and mature seed between the time of the last cultivating and the harvesting of the crop. In irrigated regions where every drop of moisture is precious, there is a particular reason for keeping the soil free from weeds. It is said that a crop of weeds draws three hundred times its own weight of moisture out of the ground and allows it to evaporate through its leaves. The irrigating farmer aims to secure clean tillage. We may name over a hundred common weeds but scarce a dozen are troublesome. If all the fertility now going to raise weeds were expended in producing useful crops, the world's productiveness would no doubt be doubled.
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Weehawken
a town in Hudson co., N. J.; on the Hudson river and on the West Shore, and the New York Central, and other railroads; opposite New York City. It contains a public and parochial school, and has two large reservoirs belonging to the Hackensack Water Company. It is said to be the largest coal shipping depot in the United States. Here are the coal docks of the Erie and Pennsylvania Railroad Companies and those of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company. Weehawken is noted as the dueling ground of Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. Pop. (1910) 11,228; (1920) 14,485.
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