ELEVENTH ANNUAL YEAR BOOK— PART XI 607 



(3) Pasture lands. The smallest rootstock development is found in 

 closely grazed pasture lands. Here the underground growth of quack- 

 grass finally becomes a few mere shreds of root-stocks, and these are very 

 near the surface. 



After completing the studies, as heretofore outlined, of the rootstock 

 habits of quack-grass under different field conditions, experimental work 

 was undertaken looking to the discovery of a practical method for the 

 control of this pest. That quack-grass can be destroyed by persistent 

 clean cultivation is well recognized; that the grass in its worst form 

 (where infesting a cultivated field) can be killed in one season and a 

 crop produced simultaneously has been demonstrated. The chances of 

 a farmer, however enthusiastic he may be at the beginning of such an 

 undertaking, carrying work of this kind through to a successful con- 

 clusion are very problematical. Such work requires considerable labor 

 of a more or less careful, painstaking nature at a very busy season of the 

 year. The early growing season is a period of many interests, and gen- 

 erally as soon as the farmer finds that the quack-grass is fairly well 

 under control he immediately centers his interests on some other seem- 

 ingly more important line of farm work. The result is that the pest 

 soon gets another good start, and the crop by this time has advanced 

 so far toward maturity that strenuous cultivation would be detrimental 

 to the yield. Consequently, the remainder of the work is taken out in 

 good intentions for the next year. 



MIDSUMMER THE BEST SEASON TO BEGIN ERADICATION. 



Bearing these facts in mind our investigations have naturally centered 

 on methods that could be used during the periods when other farm work 

 is not very pressing. In midsummer, immediately after haying, there is 

 usually a period of more or less relaxation from general farm work. This 

 is a season of the year also when rootstock grasses seem to be at their 

 lowest state of vitality. The hay crop too has been secured from the sod 

 land and nothing more is to be produced the current season on these 

 lands; therefore, no crop is lost. If the work is begun on pasture lands, 

 at least a half season of pasturage has been obtained. It is only on sod 

 and pasture lands that it seems to be advisabble to attempt to destroy 

 quack-grass by the method here outlined, as was pointed out in the dis- 

 cussion of the rootstock habits of the grass under varying field conditions. 



HOW TO KILL QUACK-GRASS. 



The process of killing quack-grass on sod or pasture lands, beginning 

 in midsummer, is a very simple one. 



The first step is to plow the sod, cutting just under the turf, which 

 is usually about 3 inches deep. To thoroughly turn over a stiff quack- 

 grass sod as shallow as 3 inches it is advisable to use a special type of 

 plow (Scotch bottom) having a very long, gradually sloping moldboard. 

 It has been found that with this type of plow the sod can be turned very 

 shallow. The next step is to go in a week or ten days later with a disk 

 harrow and thoroughly disk the sod. Repeat this treatment every ten 



