458 



THE SMALL GRAINS 



new bulbs are formed at the bases of the old ones. In grain fields 

 where the tops are undisturbed, wild garlic propagates by aerial 

 bulblets, like the "sets" of cultivated onions, as well as by the 

 underground secondary bulbs (Fig. 142 c). Flower bearing stems 

 10 to 30 inches high are put forth in May or early June. Flowers 

 greenish white to reddish purple, ^ inch long, in simple umbels ; 



FIG. 143. Wild garlic. 



seeds when present black, flat, triangular, shriveled, T V inch long. 

 Usually following the flowers, 40 to 120 aerial bulblets are produced 

 on each plant. 



Wild garlic is very difficult to eradicate. If infested 

 land is plowed late in the fall, just deep enough to leave 

 the most bulbs possible near the surface, many will die 

 from exposure to alternate freezing and thawing. Any 



